Microbiocidal derivatives

ABSTRACT

Compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim  1 , useful as pesticides, and especially fungicides.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/064734 filed May 27, 2020, which claims priority to EP 19177407.4, filed May 29, 2019, the entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to microbiocidal azabenzodioxole derivatives, e.g., as active ingredients, which have microbiocidal activity, in particular fungicidal activity. The invention also relates to the preparation of these azabenzodioxole derivatives, to agrochemical compositions which comprise at least one of the azabenzodioxole derivatives and to uses of the azabenzodioxole derivatives or compositions thereof in agriculture or horticulture for controlling or preventing the infestation of plants, harvested food crops, seeds or non-living materials by phytopathogenic microorganisms, preferably fungi.

WO 2015/040405 describes pyridinecarboxamide derivatives as pesticidal agents.

According to the present invention, there is provided a compound of formula (I):

wherein

R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, formyl, C₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆haloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₃alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyoxalyl, C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonylC₁-C₄alkylC₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkylsulfanylcarbonyl, or phenylcarbonyl;

R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, halogen, or C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₂alkyl;

R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₈haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or groups individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁷, or a 5- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi- or carbotri-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally bonded to the rest of the molecule through a C₁-C₂alkylene linker;

R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁶;

R⁶ is halogen, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, or C₁-C₄haloalkyl;

R⁷ is halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄haloalkyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, or C₁-C₄haloalkoxy; or a salt or an N-oxide thereof.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the novel compounds of formula (I) have, for practical purposes, a very advantageous level of biological activity for protecting plants against diseases that are caused by fungi.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an agrochemical composition comprising a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) according to the present invention. Such an agricultural composition may further comprise at least one additional active ingredient and/or an agrochemically-acceptable diluent or carrier.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling or preventing infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, wherein a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I), or a composition comprising this compound as active ingredient, is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of a compound of formula (I) as a fungicide. According to this particular aspect of the invention, the use may or may not include methods for the treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy.

Where substituents are indicated as being “optionally substituted”, this means that they may or may not carry one or more identical or different substituents, e.g., one, two or three R⁶ substituents. For example, C₁-C₈alkyl substituted by 1, 2 or 3 halogens, may include, but not be limited to, —CH₂Cl, —CHCl₂, —CCl₃, —CH₂F, —CHF₂, —CF₃, —CH₂CF₃ or —CF₂CH₃ groups. As another example, C₁-C₆alkoxy substituted by 1, 2 or 3 halogens, may include, but not limited to, CH₂ClO—, CHCl₂O—, CCl₃O—, CH₂FO—, CHF₂O—, CF₃O—, CF₃CH₂O— or CH₃CF₂O— groups.

As used herein, the term “cyano” means a —CN group.

As used herein, the term “halogen” refers to fluorine (fluoro), chlorine (chloro), bromine (bromo) or iodine (iodo).

As used herein, the term “formyl” means a —C(O)H group.

As used herein, the term “acetyl” means a —C(O)CH₃ group.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₈alkyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing no unsaturation, having from one to eight carbon atoms, and which is attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond. “C₁-C₆alkyl”, “C₁-C₄alkyl” and “C₁-C₃alkyl” are to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₁-C₈alkyl include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and the isomers thereof, for example, iso-propyl. A “C₁-C₆alkylene” group refers to the corresponding definition of C₁-C₆alkyl, except that such radical is attached to the rest of the molecule by two single bonds. The term “C₁-C₂alkylene” is to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₁-C₆alkylene, include, but are not limited to, —CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂— and —(CH₂)₃—.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₈haloalkyl” refers a C₁-C₈alkyl radical as generally defined above substituted by one or more of the same or different halogen atoms. The terms “C₁-C₆haloalkyl” and “C₁-C₄haloalkyl”, are to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₁-C₈haloalkyl include, but are not limited to trifluoromethyl.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₈alkoxy” refers to a radical of the formula —OR_(a) where R_(a) is a C₁-C₈alkyl radical as generally defined above. The terms “C₁-C₆alkoxy”, “C₁-C₄alkoxy” and “C₁-C₃alkoxy” are to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₁-C₈alkoxy include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, 1-methylethoxy (iso-propoxy), and propoxy.

As used herein, the term “C₂-C₆alkenyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical group consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing at least one double bond that can be of either the (E)- or (Z)-configuration, having from two to six carbon atoms, which is attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond. The term “C₂-C₃alkenyl” is to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₂-C₆alkenyl include, but are not limited to, ethenyl (vinyl), prop-1-enyl, prop-2-enyl (allyl), but-1-enyl.

As used herein, the term “C₂-C₆alkynyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical group consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing at least one triple bond, having from two to six carbon atoms, and which is attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond. The term “C₂-C₃alkynyl” is to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₂-C₆alkynyl include, but are not limited to, ethynyl, prop-1-ynyl, but-1-ynyl.

As used herein, the term “C₂-C₆alkynyloxy” refers to a radical of the formula —OR_(a) where R_(a) is a C₂-C₈alkynyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₃-C₈cycloalkyl” refers to a radical which is a monocyclic saturated ring system and which contains 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The terms “C₃-C₆cycloalkyl”, “C₃-C₄cycloalkyl” are to be construed accordingly. Examples of C₃-C₆cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl, 2-methylcyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, 1-methylcyclobutyl, 1,1-dimethylcyclobutyl, 2-methylcyclobutyl, and 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl.

As used herein, the term “C₃-C₈cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl” refers to a C₃-C₈cycloalkyl ring attached to the rest of the molecule by a C₁-C₂alkylene linker as defined above.

As used herein, the term “phenylC₁-C₂alkyl” refers to a phenyl ring attached to the rest of the molecule by a C₁-C₂alkylene linker as defined above.

As used herein, the term “oxetan-3-ylC₁-C₂alkyl”, refers to an oxetan ring attached to the rest of the molecule by a C₁-C₂alkylene linker as defined above.

As used herein, the term “heteroaryl” refers to a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring radical which comprises 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.

Examples of heteroaryl include, but are not limited to, furanyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidyl or pyridyl.

As used herein, the term “heteroarylC₁-C₂alkyl” refers to a heteroaryl ring attached to the rest of the molecule by a C₁-C₂alkylene linker as defined above.

As used herein, the term “heterocyclyl” refers to a stable 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring which comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms, wherein the heteroatoms are individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. The heterocyclyl radical may be bonded to the rest of the molecule via a carbon atom or heteroatom. Examples of heterocyclyl include, but are not limited to, aziridinyl, azetidinyl, oxetanyl, thietanyl, tetrahydrofuryl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidnyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, dioxolanyl, dithiolanyl and thiazolidinyl.

As used herein, the term “heterocyclylC₁-C₂alkyl” refers to a heterocyclyl ring attached to the rest of the molecule by a C₁-C₂alkylene linker as defined above.

As used herein, a “spirocyclic carbobi- or carbotri-cyclyl ring” is a non-aromatic bicyclic ring system comprising two rings joined together at one carbon atom, i.e., sharing one carbon atom.

Examples of a spirocyclic carbobi- or carbotri-cyclyl ring system include, but are not limited to, spiro[3.3]heptanyl, spiro[3.4]octanyl, spiro[4.5]decanyl, spiro[cyclobutan-1,2′-indanyl], or spiro[cyclopentane-1,2′-tetralinyl].

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁-C₆alkyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)R_(a)OR_(b), where R_(b) is a C₁-C₆alkyl radical as generally defined above, and R_(a) is a C₁-C₆alkylene radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₆haloalkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁-C₆haloalkyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)R_(a), where R_(a) is a C₃-C₆cycloalkyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)OR_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁-C₆alkyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₆alkoxyoxalyl”, refers to —C(O)C(O)OR_(a) radical, where R_(a) C₁-C₈alkyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₂-C₆alkenyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)OR_(a), where R_(a) is a C₂-C₆alkenyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₂-C₆alkynyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)OR_(a), where R_(a) is a C₂-C₆alkynyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “C₁-C₆alkylsulfanylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)SR_(a), where R_(a) is a C₁-C₆alkyl radical as generally defined above.

As used herein, the term “phenylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)R_(a), where R_(a) is a phenyl radical.

As used herein, the term “phenylC₁-C₂alkyl” refers to a phenyl radical attached to the rest of the molecule by a C₁-C₂alkylene linker as defined above.

As used herein, the term “phenoxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)OR_(a), where R_(a) is a phenyl radical.

As used herein, the term “heteroarylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(O)R_(a), where R_(a) is a heteroaryl radical as generally defined above.

The presence of one or more possible stereogenic elements in a compound of formula (I) means that the compounds may occur in optically isomeric forms, i.e., enantiomeric or diastereomeric forms.

Also, atropisomers may occur as a result of restricted rotation about a single bond. Formula (I) is intended to include all those possible isomeric forms and mixtures thereof. The present invention includes all those possible isomeric forms and mixtures thereof for a compound of formula (I). Likewise, formula (I) is intended to include all possible tautomers. The present invention includes all possible tautomeric forms for a compound of formula (I).

In each case, the compounds of formula (I) according to the invention are in free form, in oxidized form as an N-oxide, or in salt form, e.g., an agronomically usable salt form.

N-oxides are oxidized forms of tertiary amines or oxidized forms of nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic compounds. They are described for instance in the book “Heterocyclic N-oxides” by A. Albini and S. Pietra, CRC Press, Boca Raton (1991).

The following list provides definitions, including preferred definitions, for substituents R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ with reference to compounds of formula (I). For any one of these substituents, any of the definitions given below may be combined with any definition of any other substituent given below or elsewhere in this document.

R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, formyl, C₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆haloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₃alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyoxalyl, C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonylC₁-C₄alkylC₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkylsulfanylcarbonyl, or phenylcarbonyl. Preferably, R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, C₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₄alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄haloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₄alkoxyC₁-C₃alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl, or C₁-C₄alkoxyC₁-C₂alkoxycarbonyl. More preferably, R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, or C₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, even more preferably, hydrogen, cyano, or C₁-C₃alkylcarbonyl. More preferably still, R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, or acetyl, even more preferably, hydrogen or cyano. Most preferably, R¹ is hydrogen.

R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, halogen, or C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₂alkyl. Preferably, R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄haloalkyl, halogen, or C₁-C₄alkoxyC₁-C₂alkyl. More preferably, R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₄alkyl, or halogen. More preferably still, R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₃alkyl, or halogen. Even more preferably, R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or fluoro. In particular, R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or fluoro.

In one set of embodiments, R² and R³ are both hydrogen. In another set of embodiments, R² and R³ are both fluoro. In a further set of embodiments, one of R² and R³ is hydrogen, and one of R² and R³ is methyl (e.g. when R² is hydrogen, R³ is methyl, and when R³ is hydrogen, R² is methyl).

R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₈haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or groups individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, or a 5- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi- or carbotri-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally bonded to the rest of the molecule through a C₁-C₂alkylene linker.

Preferably, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or groups individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, or a 5- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, 2, or 3, heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally bonded to the rest of the molecule through a C₁-C₂alkylene linker.

More preferably, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heteroaryl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4- to 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising a single heteroatom or group individually selected from oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, or a 6- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, or 2 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Even more preferably, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, C₃-C₄cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1 or 2 heteroatoms or groups individually selected from oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, or a 6- to 9-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, or 2 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. More preferably still, R⁴ is C₃-C₈alkyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4- to 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising a single heteroatom or group individually selected from oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, or phenylC₁-C₃alkyl.

In one set of embodiments, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₈haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₂alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, or a 5- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi- or carbotri-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, 2, or 3, heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally bonded to the rest of the molecule through a C₁-C₂alkylene linker. Preferably, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₂alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, or a 5- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, 2, or 3, heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally bonded to the rest of the molecule through a C₁-C₂alkylene linker. More preferably, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, heteroaryl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1 or 2 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, or a 6- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, or 2 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Even more preferably, R⁴ is C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₃-C₄cycloalkyl, C₃-C₄cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, or a 6- to 9-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, or 2 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. More preferably still, R⁴ is C₁-C₆alkyl, or C₃-C₄cycloalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶.

In one set of embodiments, R⁴ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-hexyl, cyclopropyl optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, cyclobutyl optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, cyclopentyl optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, cyclohexyl optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl, 1-(1,1-dioxothian-4-yl)-1-methylethyl, 3-methyloxetann-3-yl, 3-methylthietan-3-yl, 3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl, spiro[3.3]heptan-7-yl], spiro[3.4]octan-3-yl, spiro[3.4]octan-2-yl, spiro[3.5]nonan-2-yl, or 6,6-dimethyl-7-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptanyl. Preferably, R⁴ is t-butyl, isopentyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl, 1-methylcyclobutyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl, 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl, 1-(1,1-dioxothian-4-yl)-1-methylethyl, 3-methyloxetann-3-yl, 3-methylthietan-3-yl, 3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl, spiro[3.3]heptan-7-yl], or spiro[3.4]octan-3-yl. More preferably, R⁴ is isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl, or 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl. Even more preferably, R⁴ is isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 3-methyloxetan-3-yl, 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl, or 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl.

In a further set of embodiments, R⁴ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, n-hexyl, cyclopropyl optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, cyclobutyl optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, spiro[3.3]heptan-7-yl], spiro[3.4]octan-3-yl, spiro[3.4]octan-2-yl, spiro[3.5]nonan-2-yl, or 6,6-dimethyl-7-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptanyl. Preferably, R⁴ is t-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl, or spiro[3.4]octan-3-yl. More preferably, R⁴ is t-butyl, isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl, or 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl. Even more preferably, R⁴ is isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, or 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl.

R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷. Preferably, R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷. More preferably, R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen and sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷. Even more preferably, R⁵ is phenyl, pyridyl, or isothiazolyl, wherein each phenyl, pyridyl, or isothiazolyl moiety is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷. More preferably still, R⁵ is phenyl or pyridyl, wherein each phenyl or pyridyl moiety is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷.

In one set of embodiments, R⁵ is phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, pyridin-4-yl, 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl, 2-chloropyridin-4-yl, 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl, 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl, pyridin-3-yl, 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl, 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl, 6-chloropyridin-3-yl, 5-chloropyridin-3-yl, or isothiazol-4-yl. More preferably still, R⁵ is phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl, or 5-chloropyridin-3-yl. Even more preferably still, R⁵ is phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, or 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl.

R⁶ is halogen, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, or C₁-C₄haloalkyl. Preferably, R⁶ is chloro, fluoro, C₁-C₃alkyl, C₁-C₃alkoxy, or C₁-C₃haloalkyl. More preferably, R⁶ is chloro, fluoro, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, methoxy, ethoxy, isopropoxy, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl. Even more preferably, R⁶ is chloro, fluoro, or methyl. Most preferably, R⁶ is methyl.

R⁷ is halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄haloalkyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, C₁-C₄haloalkoxy. Preferably, R⁷ is halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃alkyl, C₁-C₃haloalkyl, C₁-C₃alkoxy, or C₁-C₃haloalkoxy. More preferably, R⁷ is chloro, fluoro, cyano, C₁-C₃alkyl, C₁-C₃haloalkyl, or C₁-C₃alkoxy. Even more preferably, R⁷ is chloro, fluoro, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, ethoxy or isopropoxy. In one set of embodiments R⁷ is halogen, C₁-C₃alkyl, or C₁-C₃alkoxy, preferably R⁷ is chloro, fluoro, methyl, or methoxy, more preferably, fluoro or methyl, and most preferably R⁷ is methyl.

In a compound of formula (I) according to the present invention, preferably:

-   -   R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, or C₁-C₃alkylcarbonyl;     -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₃alkyl, or         halogen;     -   R⁴ is C₁-C₆alkyl, or C₃-C₄cycloalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl         groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented         by R⁶;     -   R⁵ is phenyl, pyridyl, or isothiazolyl, wherein each phenyl,         pyridyl, or isothiazolyl moiety is optionally substituted by 1         or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected         from R⁷;     -   R⁶ is methyl; and     -   R⁷ is chloro, fluoro, methyl, or methoxy.

In another set of embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen or cyano;

-   -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or fluoro;     -   R⁴ is t-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl,         1-methylcyclopropyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl, or         spiro[3.4]octan-3-yl;     -   R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or         6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3         heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and         sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally         substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or         different, selected from R⁷; and     -   R⁷ is chloro, fluoro, methyl, or methoxy.

In a further set of embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen or cyano;

-   -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or fluoro;     -   R⁴ is C₁-C₆alkyl, or C₃-C₄cycloalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl         groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented         by R⁶;     -   R⁵ is phenyl, pyridyl, or isothiazolyl, wherein each phenyl,         pyridyl, or isothiazolyl moiety is optionally substituted by 1         or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected         from R⁷;     -   R⁶ is methyl; and     -   R⁷ is methyl.

In a still further set of embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen, cyano or acetyl;

-   -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl,         C₁-C₆haloalkyl, halogen, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₂alkyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl,         C₂-C₆haloalkenyl, or oxetan-3-ylC₁-C₂alkyl;     -   R⁴ is t-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl,         1-methylcyclopropyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl, or         spiro[3.4]octan-3-yl; and     -   R⁵ is phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 3-methylphenyl,         3-methoxyphenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl,         3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, pyridin-4-yl,         2-fluoropyridin-4-yl, 2-chloropyridin-4-yl,         2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl, 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl,         pyridin-3-yl, 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl, 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl,         6-chloropyridin-3-yl, 5-chloropyridin-3-yl, or isothiazol-4-yl.

In an even further set of embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen or cyano;

-   -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or fluoro;     -   R⁴ is isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, or 2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl;         and     -   R⁵ is phenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, or         2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl.

In a set of preferred embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen or cyano;

-   -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or fluoro;     -   R⁴ is 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, isopentyl,         1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclopropyl,         1-methylcyclobutyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl,         3-methylthietan-3-yl, 3-methyloxetan-3-yl,         3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl, 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl, or         1-(1,1-dioxothian-4-yl)-2-methylethyl;     -   R⁵ is 3-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl,         2,6-difluropyridin-4-yl, or 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl.

In a further set of preferred embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen or cyano;

-   -   R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen or methyl;     -   R⁴ is 2,2-dimethylpropyl, isopentyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclopropyl,         3-methyloxetan-3-yl, or 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl;     -   R⁵ is 3-fluorophenyl, 2,6-difluropyridin-4-yl, or         5-fluoropyridin-3-yl.

Preferably, the compound according to formula (I) is selected from compounds P-1 to P-26 as shown in Table 3 (below). More preferably, the compound according to formula (I) is selected from 6-anilino-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-2-methyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-1), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-2-methyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-3), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-2,2-difluoro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-6), 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4-pyridyl)amino]-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-13), N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-2-methyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-2), 6-(N-cyano-3,5-difluoro-anilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-7), 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4-pyridyl)amino]-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-10), 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4-pyridyl)amino]-N-isopentyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-12), N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-[(5-fluoro-3-pyridyl)amino]-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-14), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methyl-1-phenyl-ethyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-20), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methyloxetan-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-24), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-5), 6-anilino-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-9), N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-15), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-17), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-23), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclohexyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-26), N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-8), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-11), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-18), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methylthietan-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-19), N-tert-butyl-6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-21), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-22), and 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclopentyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-25).

Even more preferably, the compound according to formula (I) is selected from N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-2-methyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-2), 6-(N-cyano-3,5-difluoro-anilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-7), 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4-pyridyl)amino]-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-10), 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4-pyridyl)amino]-N-isopentyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-12), N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-[(5-fluoro-3-pyridyl)amino]-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-14), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methyl-1-phenyl-ethyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-20), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methyloxetan-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-24), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-5), 6-anilino-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-9), N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-15), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-17), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-23), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclohexyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-26), N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-8), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-11), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-18), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methylthietan-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-19), N-tert-butyl-6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-21), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-22), and 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclopentyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-25).

More preferably still, the compound according to formula (I) is selected from P-24), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-5), 6-anilino-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-9), N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-15), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-17), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-23), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclohexyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-26), N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-8), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-11), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-18), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methylthietan-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-19), N-tert-butyl-6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-21), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-22), and 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclopentyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-25).

Most preferably, the compound according to formula (I) is selected from N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-6-(3-fluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-8), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-11), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-18), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(3-methylthietan-3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-19), N-tert-butyl-6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-21), 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-22), and 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(1-methylcyclopentyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (P-25).

Compounds of the present invention can be made as shown in the following schemes, in which, unless otherwise stated, the definition of each variable is as defined above for a compound of formula (I).

The compounds of formula (I) according to the invention, wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined for formula (I), can be obtained by transformation of a compound of formula (II), wherein R², R³, and R⁴ are as defined for formula (I), and R¹¹ is halogen, preferably chloro, with a compound of formula (III), wherein R¹ and R⁵ are as defined for formula (I), either by thermal heating, or with the aid of a base or under the conditions of the transition metal catalysed Buchwald-Hartwig amination. This is shown in Scheme 1 below.

The Buchwald-Hartwig reaction is well known to those skilled in the art, and is a chemical reaction used in organic chemistry for the synthesis of carbon-nitrogen bonds via the palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of amines with aryl and heteroaryl halides and sulphonates. Such reactions have been reported for example in for example, ACS catal., 2019, 3822-3830 and references cited therein. The reaction typically involves a palladium catalyst such Pd(OAc)₂, Pd₂(dba)₃, and ligands such diphenylphosphinobinapthyl (BINAP) and diphenylphosphinoferrocene (DPPF), and Xathphos. More modern methods of Buchwald-Hartwig couplings involve the use of palladium pre-catalysts such as BrettPhos Pd G3 (CAS[1470372-59-8]) or RuPhos Pd G3 (CAS [1445085-77-7]), use of which ensures the efficient and rapid generation of the active catalytic species. The reaction requires presence of bases such as alkaline earth metal alkoxides and hydroxides, for example potassium or sodium t-butoxides or hydroxides, alkaline earth metal carbonates such as sodium or cesium carbonates, and organic bases such as 1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU). The reactions are carried out in a variety of inert solvents such as THF, water, toluene, dioxane, and DMF and/or mixtures thereof at temperatures between 20-170° C. (Buchwald, S. L. Chem. Rev., 2016. 116(19), 12564). The reaction is especially favoured in cases wherein R¹ is hydrogen.

The compounds of formula (II), wherein R², R³ and R⁴ are as defined for formula (I) and R¹¹ is halogen, preferably chloro, can be obtained by transformation of a compound of formula (IV), wherein R⁴ is as defined for formula (I) and R¹¹ is halogen, preferably chloro, with a compound of formula (V), wherein R² and R³ are as defined for formula (I) and R¹² is halogen, preferably bromo, either by thermal heating, or with the aid of a base, preferably caesium carbonate or potassium carbonate. This is shown in Scheme 2 below.

The alkylative cyclization reactions shown above are well known to those skilled in the art and reported examples on related substrates can be found in WO17119700 or Tetrahedron Lett., 1976, 38, 3361 and Tetrahedron, 1964, 20, 1725.

The compounds of formula (IV), wherein R⁴ is as defined for formula (IV) and R¹¹ is halogen, preferably chloro, can be obtained by transformation of a compound of formula (VI), R⁴ is as defined for formula (IV) and R¹¹ is halogen, preferably chloro, with a dealkylating agent, preferably pyridinium chloride or boron tribromide with or without thermal heating. This is shown in Scheme 3 below.

Dealkylation reactions are well known to those skilled in the art and reported examples on related substrates can be found in Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2011, 19, 4935 or Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2000, 10, 1365.

The compounds of formula (VI), wherein R⁴ is as defined for formula (I), R¹¹ is halogen, preferably chloro, and R¹³ is alkyl, preferably methyl, can be obtained by transformation of a compound of formula (VII), wherein R⁴ is as defined for formula (I), and R¹³ is alkyl, preferably methyl, with an halogenating agent, preferably N-chloro succinimide, N-bromo succinimide or bromine.

Electrophilic aromatic halogenations are well known to those skilled in the art and reported examples on related substrates can be found in Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2013, 23, 5953 or Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2011, 21, 6705. This is shown in Scheme 4 below.

The compounds of formula (VII), wherein R⁴ is as defined for formula (I), and R¹³ is alkyl, preferably methyl, can be obtained by transformation of a compound of formula (VIII), wherein R¹³ is alkyl, preferably methyl, with a compound of formula (IX), wherein R⁴ is as defined for formula (I), via an intermediate acid chloride or activated acylating agent as described below. This is shown in Scheme 5 below.

As shown in Scheme 5 compound (VIII), is activated to compounds of formula (IX) by methods known to those skilled in the art and described for example in Tetrahedron, 61 (46), 10827-10852, 2005. For example, compounds of formula (IX) where X₀ is halogen are formed by treatment of compounds of formula (II) with for example, oxalyl chloride or thionyl chloride in the presence of catalytic quantities of DMF in inert solvents such as methylene dichloride or THE at temperatures between 25-170° C. preferably 25-80° C. Treatment of compounds of formula (IX) with compounds of formula (X), wherein R⁴ is as defined in formula (I), optionally in the presence of a base, e.g. triethylamine or pyridine leads to compounds of formula (VII).

Alternatively, compounds of formula (VII) can be prepared by treatment of compounds of formula (VII) with dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) or 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) to give the activated species (IX), wherein X₀ is X₀₁ or X₀₂, in an inert solvent, e.g. pyridine, or THE optionally in the presence of a base, e.g. triethylamine, at temperatures between room temperature and 180° C. In addition, an acid of the formula (VIII) can also be activated by reaction with a coupling reagent such as propanephosphonic acid anhydride (T3P®) or HATU to provide compounds of formula (IX) wherein X₀ is X₀₃ and X₀₄ as described for example in Synthesis 2013, 45, 1569 and Journal Prakt. Chemie 1998, 340, 581. Subsequent reaction with an amine of the formula X provides compounds of formula (VII).

Surprisingly, it has now been found that the novel compounds of formula (I) have, for practical purposes, a very advantageous level of biological activity for protecting plants against diseases that are caused by fungi.

The compounds of formula (I) can be used in the agricultural sector and related fields of use, e.g., as active ingredients for controlling plant pests or on non-living materials for control of spoilage microorganisms or organisms potentially harmful to man. The novel compounds are distinguished by excellent activity at low rates of application, by being well tolerated by plants and by being environmentally safe. They have very useful curative, preventive and systemic properties and may be used for protecting numerous cultivated plants. The compounds of formula (I) can be used to inhibit or destroy the pests that occur on plants or parts of plants (fruit, blossoms, leaves, stems, tubers, roots) of different crops of useful plants, while at the same time protecting also those parts of the plants that grow later, e.g., from phytopathogenic microorganisms.

The present invention further relates to a method for controlling or preventing infestation of plants or plant propagation material and/or harvested food crops susceptible to microbial attack by treating plants or plant propagation material and/or harvested food crops wherein an effective amount a compound of formula (I) is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof.

It is also possible to use the compounds of formula (I) as fungicide. The term “fungicide” as used herein means a compound that controls, modifies, or prevents the growth of fungi. The term “fungicidally effective amount” means the quantity of such a compound or combination of such compounds that is capable of producing an effect on the growth of fungi. Controlling or modifying effects include all deviation from natural development, such as killing, retardation and the like, and prevention includes barrier or other defensive formation in or on a plant to prevent fungal infection.

It is also possible to use compounds of formula (I) as dressing agents for the treatment of plant propagation material, e.g., seed, such as fruits, tubers or grains, or plant cuttings (e.g., rice), for the protection against fungal infections, as well as against phytopathogenic fungi occurring in the soil. The propagation material can be treated with a composition comprising a compound of formula (I) before planting: seed, e.g., can be dressed before being sown.

The active ingredients according to the invention can also be applied to grains (coating), either by impregnating the seeds in a liquid formulation or by coating them with a solid formulation. The composition can also be applied to the planting site when the propagation material is being planted, e.g., to the seed furrow during sowing. The invention relates also to such methods of treating plant propagation material and to the plant propagation material so treated.

Furthermore, the compounds according to present invention can be used for controlling fungi in related areas, for example in the protection of technical materials, including wood and wood related technical products, in food storage, in hygiene management.

In addition, the invention could be used to protect non-living materials from fungal attack, e.g., lumber, wall boards and paint.

The compounds of formula (I) may be, for example, effective against fungi and fungal vectors of disease as well as phytopathogenic bacteria and viruses. These fungi and fungal vectors of disease as well as phytopathogenic bacteria and viruses are for example: Absidia corymbifera, Alternaria spp, Aphanomyces spp, Ascochyta spp, Aspergillus spp. including A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. terrus, Aureobasidium spp. including A. pullulans, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Blumeria graminis, Bremia lactucae, Botryosphaeria spp. including B. dothidea, B. obtusa, Botrytis spp. inclusing B. cinerea, Candida spp. including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Cephaloascus fragrans, Ceratocystis spp, Cercospora spp. including C. arachidicola, Cercosporidium personatum, Cladosporium spp, Claviceps purpurea, Coccidioides immitis, Cochliobolus spp, Colletotrichum spp. including C. musae, Cryptococcus neoformans, Diaporthe spp, Didymella spp, Drechslera spp, Elsinoe spp, Epidermophyton spp, Erwinia amylovora, Erysiphe spp. including E. cichoracearum, Eutypa lata, Fusarium spp. including F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. langsethiae, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans, F. solani, Gaeumannomyces graminis, Gibberella fujikuroi, Gloeodes pomigena, Gloeosporium musarum, Glomerella cingulate, Guignardia bidwellii, Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae, Helminthosporium spp, Hemileia spp, Histoplasma spp. including H. capsulatum, Laetisaria fuciformis, Leptographium lindbergi, Leveillula taurica, Lophodermium seditiosum, Microdochium nivale, Microsporum spp, Monilinia spp, Mucor spp, Mycosphaerella spp. including M. graminicola, M. pomi, Oncobasidium theobromaeon, Ophiostoma piceae, Paracoccidioides spp, Penicillium spp. including P. digitatum, P. italicum, Petriellidium spp, Peronosclerospora spp. Including P. maydis, P. philippinensis and P. sorghi, Peronospora spp, Phaeosphaeria nodorum, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phellinus igniarus, Phialophora spp, Phoma spp, Phomopsis viticola, Phytophthora spp. including P. infestans, Plasmopara spp. including P. halstedii, P. viticola, Pleospora spp., Podosphaera spp. including P. leucotricha, Polymyxa graminis, Polymyxa betae, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, Pseudomonas spp, Pseudoperonospora spp. including P. cubensis, P. humuli, Pseudopeziza tracheiphila, Puccinia Spp. including P. hordei, P. recondita, P. striiformis, P. triticina, Pyrenopeziza spp, Pyrenophora spp, Pyricularia spp. including P. oryzae, Pythium spp. including P. ultimum, Ramularia spp, Rhizoctonia spp, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhynchosporium spp, Scedosporium spp. including S. apiospermum and S. prolificans, Schizothyrium pomi, Sclerotinia spp, Sclerotium spp, Septoria spp, including S. nodorum, S. tritici, Sphaerotheca macularis, Sphaerotheca fusca (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), Sporothorix spp, Stagonospora nodorum, Stemphylium spp., Stereum hirsutum, Thanatephorus cucumeris, Thielaviopsis basicola, Tilletia spp, Trichoderma spp., including T. harzianum, T. pseudokoningii, T. viride, Trichophyton spp, Typhula spp, Uncinula necator, Urocystis spp, Ustilago spp, Venturia spp. including V. inaequalis, Verticillium spp, and Xanthomonas spp.

Within the scope of present invention, target crops and/or useful plants to be protected typically comprise perennial and annual crops, such as berry plants for example blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries; cereals for example barley, maize (corn), millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum triticale and wheat; fibre plants for example cotton, flax, hemp, jute and sisal; field crops for example sugar and fodder beet, coffee, hops, mustard, oilseed rape (canola), poppy, sugar cane, sunflower, tea and tobacco; fruit trees for example apple, apricot, avocado, banana, cherry, citrus, nectarine, peach, pear and plum; grasses for example Bermuda grass, bluegrass, bentgrass, centipede grass, fescue, ryegrass, St. Augustine grass and Zoysia grass; herbs such as basil, borage, chives, coriander, lavender, lovage, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme; legumes for example beans, lentils, peas and soya beans; nuts for example almond, cashew, ground nut, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio and walnut; palms for example oil palm; ornamentals for example flowers, shrubs and trees; other trees, for example cacao, coconut, olive and rubber; vegetables for example asparagus, aubergine, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marrow, melon, okra, onion, pepper, potato, pumpkin, rhubarb, spinach and tomato; and vines for example grapes.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also useful plants that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides like bromoxynil or classes of herbicides (such as, for example, HPPD inhibitors, ALS inhibitors, for example primisulfuron, prosulfuron and trifloxysulfuron, EPSPS (5-enol-pyrovyl-shikimate-3-phosphate-synthase) inhibitors, GS (glutamine synthetase) inhibitors or PPO (protoporphyrinogen-oxidase) inhibitors) as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering. An example of a crop that has been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis) is Clearfield® summer rape (Canola). Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or classes of herbicides by genetic engineering methods include glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant maize varieties commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady®, Herculex I® and LibertyLink®.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also useful plants which have been so transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that they are capable of synthesising one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producing bacteria, especially those of the genus Bacillus.

Examples of such plants are: YieldGard® (maize variety that expresses a CryIA(b) toxin); YieldGard Rootworm® (maize variety that expresses a CryIIIB(b1) toxin); YieldGard Plus@ (maize variety that expresses a CryIA(b) and a CryIIIB(b1) toxin); Starlink® (maize variety that expresses a Cry9(c) toxin); Herculex I® (maize variety that expresses a CryIF(a2) toxin and the enzyme phosphinothricine N-acetyltransferase (PAT) to achieve tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium); NuCOTN 33B® (cotton variety that expresses a CryIA(c) toxin); Bollgard I® (cotton variety that expresses a CryIA(c) toxin); Bollgard II® (cotton variety that expresses a CryIA(c) and a CryIIA(b) toxin); VIPCOT® (cotton variety that expresses a VIP toxin); NewLeaf® (potato variety that expresses a CryIIIA toxin); NatureGard® Agrisure® GT Advantage (GA21 glyphosate-tolerant trait), Agrisure® CB Advantage (Bt11 corn borer (CB) trait), Agrisure® RW (corn rootworm trait) and Protecta®.

The term “crops” is to be understood as including also crop plants which have been so transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that they are capable of synthesising one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producing bacteria, especially those of the genus Bacillus.

Toxins that can be expressed by such transgenic plants include, for example, insecticidal proteins from Bacillus cereus or Bacillus popilliae; or insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as 6-endotoxins, e.g. Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1Fa2, Cry2Ab, Cry3A, Cry3Bb1 or Cry9C, or vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip), e.g. Vip1, Vip2, Vip3 or Vip3A; or insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonising nematodes, for example Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp., such as Photorhabdus luminescens, Xenorhabdus nematophilus; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins and other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such as Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea lectins, barley lectins or snowdrop lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin, papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroidoxidase, ecdysteroid-UDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors, HMG-COA-reductase, ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels, juvenile hormone esterase, diuretic hormone receptors, stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases and glucanases.

In the context of the present invention there are to be understood by 8-endotoxins, for example Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1 Fa2, Cry2Ab, Cry3A, Cry3Bb1 or Cry9C, or vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip), for example Vip1, Vip2, Vip3 or Vip3A, expressly also hybrid toxins, truncated toxins and modified toxins. Hybrid toxins are produced recombinantly by a new combination of different domains of those proteins (see, for example, WO 02/15701). Truncated toxins, for example a truncated Cry1Ab, are known. In the case of modified toxins, one or more amino acids of the naturally occurring toxin are replaced. In such amino acid replacements, preferably non-naturally present protease recognition sequences are inserted into the toxin, such as, for example, in the case of Cry3A055, a cathepsin-G-recognition sequence is inserted into a Cry3A toxin (see WO 03/018810).

Examples of such toxins or transgenic plants capable of synthesising such toxins are disclosed, for example, in EP-A-0 374 753, WO 93/07278, WO 95/34656, EP-A-0 427 529, EP-A-451 878 and WO 03/052073.

The processes for the preparation of such transgenic plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, for example, in the publications mentioned above. CryI-type deoxyribonucleic acids and their preparation are known, for example, from WO 95/34656, EP-A-0 367 474, EP-A-0 401 979 and WO 90/13651.

The toxin contained in the transgenic plants imparts to the plants tolerance to harmful insects. Such insects can occur in any taxonomic group of insects, but are especially commonly found in the beetles (Coleoptera), two-winged insects (Diptera) and butterflies (Lepidoptera).

Transgenic plants containing one or more genes that code for an insecticidal resistance and express one or more toxins are known and some of them are commercially available. Examples of such plants are: YieldGard® (maize variety that expresses a Cry1Ab toxin); YieldGard Rootworm® (maize variety that expresses a Cry3Bb1 toxin); YieldGard Plus@ (maize variety that expresses a Cry1Ab and a Cry3Bb1 toxin); Starlink® (maize variety that expresses a Cry9C toxin); Herculex I® (maize variety that expresses a Cry1 Fa2 toxin and the enzyme phosphinothricine N-acetyltransferase (PAT) to achieve tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium); NuCOTN 33B® (cotton variety that expresses a Cry1Ac toxin); Bollgard I® (cotton variety that expresses a Cry1Ac toxin); Bollgard II® (cotton variety that expresses a Cry1Ac and a Cry2Ab toxin); VipCot® (cotton variety that expresses a Vip3A and a Cry1Ab toxin); NewLeaf® (potato variety that expresses a Cry3A toxin); NatureGard®, Agrisure® GT Advantage (GA21 glyphosate-tolerant trait), Agrisure® CB Advantage (Bt11 corn borer (CB) trait) and Protecta®.

Further examples of such transgenic crops are:

-   1. Bt11 Maize from Syngenta Seeds SAS, Chemin de l'Hobit 27, F-31     790 St. Sauveur, France, registration number C/FR/96/05/10.     Genetically modified Zea mays which has been rendered resistant to     attack by the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis and Sesamia     nonagrioides) by transgenic expression of a truncated Cry1Ab toxin.     Bt11 maize also transgenically expresses the enzyme PAT to achieve     tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium. -   2. Bt176 Maize from Syngenta Seeds SAS, Chemin de l'Hobit 27, F-31     790 St. Sauveur, France, registration number C/FR/96/05/10.     Genetically modified Zea mays which has been rendered resistant to     attack by the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis and Sesamia     nonagrioides) by transgenic expression of a Cry1Ab toxin. Bt176     maize also transgenically expresses the enzyme PAT to achieve     tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium. -   3. MIR604 Maize from Syngenta Seeds SAS, Chemin de l'Hobit 27, F-31     790 St. Sauveur, France, registration number C/FR/96/05/10. Maize     which has been rendered insect-resistant by transgenic expression of     a modified Cry3A toxin. This toxin is Cry3A055 modified by insertion     of a cathepsin-G-protease recognition sequence. The preparation of     such transgenic maize plants is described in WO 03/018810. -   4. MON 863 Maize from Monsanto Europe S.A. 270-272 Avenue de     Tervuren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C/DE/02/9.     MON 863 expresses a Cry3Bb1 toxin and has resistance to certain     Coleoptera insects. -   5. IPC 531 Cotton from Monsanto Europe S.A. 270-272 Avenue de     Tervuren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C/ES/96/02. -   6. 1507 Maize from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Avenue Tedesco, 7     B-1160 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C/NL/00/10.     Genetically modified maize for the expression of the protein Cry1F     for achieving resistance to certain Lepidoptera insects and of the     PAT protein for achieving tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate     ammonium. -   7. NK603×MON 810 Maize from Monsanto Europe S.A. 270-272 Avenue de     Tervuren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium, registration number     C/GB/02/M3/03. Consists of conventionally bred hybrid maize     varieties by crossing the genetically modified varieties NK603 and     MON 810. NK603×MON 810 Maize transgenically expresses the protein     CP4 EPSPS, obtained from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, which imparts     tolerance to the herbicide Roundup® (contains glyphosate), and also     a Cry1Ab toxin obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki     which brings about tolerance to certain Lepidoptera, include the     European corn borer.

Additionally, to date, no cross-resistance has been observed between the compounds of Formula (I) (including any one of compounds described in Table 3 (below)) and any fungicidal solutions used to control phytopathogenic fungi such as Absidia corymbifera, Alternaria spp, Aphanomyces spp, Ascochyta spp, Aspergillus spp. including A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. terrus, Aureobasidium spp. including A. pullulans, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Blumeria graminis, Bremia lactucae, Botryosphaeria spp. including B. dothidea, B. obtusa, Botrytis spp. inclusing B. cinerea, Candida spp. including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Cephaloascus fragrans, Ceratocystis spp, Cercospora spp. including C. arachidicola, Cercosporidium personatum, Cladosporium spp, Claviceps purpurea, Coccidioides immitis, Cochliobolus spp, Colletotrichum spp. including C. musae, Cryptococcus neoformans, Diaporthe spp, Didymella spp, Drechslera spp, Elsinoe spp, Epidermophyton spp, Erwinia amylovora, Erysiphe spp. including E. cichoracearum, Eutypa lata, Fusarium spp. including F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. Iangsethiae, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans, F. solani, Gaeumannomyces graminis, Gibberella fujikuroi, Gloeodes pomigena, Gloeosporium musarum, Glomerella cingulate, Guignardia bidwellii, Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae, Helminthosporium spp, Hemileia spp, Histoplasma spp. including H. capsulatum, Laetisaria fuciformis, Leptographium lindbergi, Leveillula taurica, Lophodermium seditiosum, Microdochium nivale, Microsporum spp, Monilinia spp, Mucor spp, Mycosphaerella spp. including M. graminicola, M. pomi, Oncobasidium theobromaeon, Ophiostoma piceae, Paracoccidioides spp, Penicillium spp. including P. digitatum, P. italicum, Petriellidium spp, Peronosclerospora spp. Including P. maydis, P. philippinensis and P. sorghi, Peronospora spp, Phaeosphaeria nodorum, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phellinus igniarus, Phialophora spp, Phoma spp, Phomopsis viticola, Phytophthora spp. including P. infestans, Plasmopara spp. including P. halstedii, P. viticola, Pleospora spp., Podosphaera spp. including P. leucotricha, Polymyxa graminis, Polymyxa betae, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, Pseudomonas spp, Pseudoperonospora spp. including P. cubensis, P. humuli, Pseudopeziza tracheiphila, Puccinia Spp. including P. hordei, P. recondita, P. striiformis, P. triticina, Pyrenopeziza spp, Pyrenophora spp, Pyricularia spp. including P. oryzae, Pythium spp. including P. ultimum, Ramularia spp, Rhizoctonia spp, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhynchosporium spp, Scedosporium spp. including S. apiospermum and S. prolificans, Schizothyrium pomi, Sclerotinia spp, Sclerotium spp, Septoria spp, including S. nodorum, S. tritici, Sphaerotheca macularis, Sphaerotheca fusca (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), Sporothorix spp, Stagonospora nodorum, Stemphylium spp., Stereum hirsutum, Thanatephorus cucumeris, Thielaviopsis basicola, Tilletia spp, Trichoderma spp., including T. harzianum, T. pseudokoningii, T. viride, Trichophyton spp, Typhula spp, Uncinula necator, Urocystis spp, Ustilago spp, Venturia spp. including V. inaequalis, Verticillium spp, and Xanthomonas spp., in particular, Zymoseptoria tritici, Puccinia recondita, Puccinia striiformis, Erysiphe graminis, Uncinula necator, Sphaerotheca fuliginea, Leveillula taurica, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Pyricularia oryzae, Alternaria solani, Alternaria alternata, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, Colletotrichum lagenarium, Didymella bryoniae, Ascochyta pisii, Verticillium dahliae, Pyrenophora teres, Cercospora beticola, Ramularia collo-cygni, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Monilinia laxa, Monographaella nivalis and Venturia inaequalis.

Indeed, fungicidal-resistant strains in any of the species as outlined above have been reported in the scientific literature, with strains resistant to one or more fungicides from at least one of the following fungicidal mode of action classes: quinone-outside-inhibitors (QoI), quinone-inside-inhibitors (QiI), succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) and sterol demethylation-inhibitors (DMI). Such fungicidal-resistant strains may contain:

-   -   A mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene conferring         resistance to Qo inhibitors, wherein the mutation is G143A,         F129L or G137R. See for example: Gisi et al., Pest Manag Sci 56,         833-841, (2000), Lucas, Pestic Outlook 14(6), 268-70 (2003),         Fraaije et al., Phytopathol 95(8), 933-41 (2005), Sierotzki et         al., Pest Manag Sci 63(3), 225-233 (2007), Semar et al., Journal         of Plant Diseases and Protection (3), 117-119 (2007); and Pasche         et al., Crop Protection 27(3-5), 427-435 (2008).     -   A mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene conferring         resistance to Qi inhibitors, wherein the mutation is         G37A/C/D/S/V. See for example: Meunier et al., Pest Manag Sci         2019; 75: 2107-2114.     -   A mutation in the genes encoding the SdhB,C,D subunits         conferring resistance to SDHI inhibitors wherein the mutation is         in the following major pathogens:         -   Botrytis cinerea: B-P225H/L/T/Y/F, B-N2301, B-H272L/Y/R,             C-P80H/L, C-N87S;         -   Alternaria solani: B-H278R/Y, C-H134R/Q, D-D123E, D-H133R             and C-H134R;         -   Zymoseptoria tritici: sdhB: N225T, N2251, R265P, T2681,             T268A. In sdhC: T79N, T791, W80S, W80A, A84F, N86S, N86A,             P127A, R151M/S/T/G, R151S, R151T, H152R/Y, V166M, T168R. In             sdhD: I50F, M114V, D129G, T20P+K186R;         -   Pyrenophora teres: In sdhB: S66P, N2351, H277Y. In sdhC:             K49E, R64K, N75S, G79R, H134R, S135R. In sdhD: D124E, H134R,             G138V, D145G;         -   Ramularia collo-cygni: In sdhB: N224T, T2671. In sdhC: N87S,             G91R, H146R/L, G171D, H153R;         -   Phakopsora pachyrhizi: C-I86F;         -   Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: In sdhB: H273Y. In sdhC: G91R,             H146R. In sdhD: T108K, H132R, G150R.             Major source of information is www.frac.info, Sierotzki and             Scalliet Phytopathology (2013) 103(9): 880-887 and Simões et             al., J Plant Dis Prot (2018) 125: 21-2.     -   A mutation or combination of mutations in the CYP51 gene         conferring resistance to DMI inhibitors wherein the mutations         are: L50S, D134G, V136A/C, Y137F, S188N, A379G, 1381V, deletion         459-460, Y461H/S, N513K, S524T. Major source of information is         www.frac.info, Cools et al., Plant Pathol (2013) 62: 36-42 and         Schmitz H K et al., Pest Manag Sci (2014) 70: 378-388.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I) (including any one of compounds described in Table 3 (below)), or fungicidal compositions according to the present invention comprising a compound of Formula (I), are used to control fungal strains which are resistant to one or more fungicides from any of the following fungicidal MoA classes: quinone-outside-inhibitors (QoI), quinone-inside-inhibitors (QiI), succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) and sterol demethylation-inhibitors (DMI).

The term “locus” as used herein means fields in or on which plants are growing, or where seeds of cultivated plants are sown, or where seed will be placed into the soil. It includes soil, seeds, and seedlings, as well as established vegetation.

The term “plants” refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage, and fruits.

The term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generative parts of the plant, such as seeds, which can be used for the multiplication of the latter, and vegetative material, such as cuttings or tubers, for example potatoes. There may be mentioned for example seeds (in the strict sense), roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants. Germinated plants and young plants which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil, may also be mentioned. These young plants may be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion. Preferably “plant propagation material” is understood to denote seeds.

Pesticidal agents referred to herein using their common name are known, for example, from “The Pesticide Manual”, 15th Ed., British Crop Protection Council 2009.

The compounds of formula (I) may be used in unmodified form or, preferably, together with the adjuvants conventionally employed in the art of formulation. To this end, they may be conveniently formulated in known manner to emulsifiable concentrates, coatable pastes, directly sprayable or dilutable solutions or suspensions, dilute emulsions, wettable powders, soluble powders, dusts, granulates, and also encapsulations e.g. in polymeric substances. As with the type of the compositions, the methods of application, such as spraying, atomising, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevailing circumstances. The compositions may also contain further adjuvants such as stabilizers, antifoams, viscosity regulators, binders or tackifiers as well as fertilizers, micronutrient donors or other formulations for obtaining special effects.

Suitable carriers and adjuvants, e.g., for agricultural use, can be solid or liquid and are substances useful in formulation technology, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners, binders or fertilizers. Such carriers are for example described in WO 97/33890.

The compounds of formula (I) are normally used in the form of compositions and can be applied to the crop area or plant to be treated, simultaneously or in succession with further compounds. These further compounds can be, e.g., fertilizers or micronutrient donors or other preparations, which influence the growth of plants. They can also be selective herbicides or non-selective herbicides as well as insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, nematicides, molluscicides or mixtures of several of these preparations, if desired together with further carriers, surfactants or application promoting adjuvants customarily employed in the art of formulation.

The compounds of formula (I) may be used in the form of (fungicidal) compositions for controlling or protecting against phytopathogenic microorganisms, comprising as active ingredient at least one compound of formula (I) or of at least one preferred individual compound as above-defined, in free form or in agrochemically usable salt form, and at least one of the above-mentioned adjuvants.

The invention provides a composition, preferably a fungicidal composition, comprising at least one compound formula (I) an agriculturally acceptable carrier and optionally an adjuvant. An agricultural acceptable carrier is for example a carrier that is suitable for agricultural use. Agricultural carriers are well known in the art. Preferably, said composition may comprise at least one or more pesticidally active compounds, for example an additional fungicidal active ingredient in addition to the compound of formula (I).

The compound of formula (I) may be the sole active ingredient of a composition or it may be admixed with one or more additional active ingredients such as a pesticide, fungicide, synergist, herbicide or plant growth regulator where appropriate. An additional active ingredient may, in some cases, result in unexpected synergistic activities. Examples of suitable additional active ingredients include the following acycloamino acid fungicides, aliphatic nitrogen fungicides, amide fungicides, anilide fungicides, antibiotic fungicides, aromatic fungicides, arsenical fungicides, aryl phenyl ketone fungicides, benzamide fungicides, benzanilide fungicides, benzimidazole fungicides, benzothiazole fungicides, botanical fungicides, bridged diphenyl fungicides, carbamate fungicides, carbanilate fungicides, conazole fungicides, copper fungicides, dicarboximide fungicides, dinitrophenol fungicides, dithiocarbamate fungicides, dithiolane fungicides, furamide fungicides, furanilide fungicides, hydrazide fungicides, imidazole fungicides, mercury fungicides, morpholine fungicides, organophosphorous fungicides, organotin fungicides, oxathiin fungicides, oxazole fungicides, phenylsulfamide fungicides, polysulfide fungicides, pyrazole fungicides, pyridine fungicides, pyrimidine fungicides, pyrrole fungicides, quaternary ammonium fungicides, quinoline fungicides, quinone fungicides, quinoxaline fungicides, strobilurin fungicides, sulfonanilide fungicides, thiadiazole fungicides, thiazole fungicides, thiazolidine fungicides, thiocarbamate fungicides, thiophene fungicides, triazine fungicides, triazole fungicides, triazolopyrimidine fungicides, urea fungicides, valinamide fungicides, and zinc fungicides.

Examples of suitable additional active ingredients also include the following: petroleum oils, 1,1-bis(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-ethoxyethanol, 2,4-dichlorophenyl benzenesulfonate, 2-fluoro-N-methyl-N-1-naphthylacetamide, 4-chlorophenyl phenyl sulfone, acetoprole, aldoxycarb, amidithion, amidothioate, amiton, amiton hydrogen oxalate, amitraz, aramite, arsenous oxide, azobenzene, azothoate, benomyl, benoxa-fos, benzyl benzoate, bixafen, brofenvalerate, bromo-cyclen, bromophos, bromopropylate, buprofezin, butocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, butylpyridaben, calcium polysulfide, camphechlor, carbanolate, carbophenothion, cymiazole, chino-methionat, chlorbenside, chlordimeform, chlordimeform hydrochloride, chlorfenethol, chlorfenson, chlorfensulfide, chlorobenzilate, chloromebuform, chloromethiuron, chloropropylate, chlorthiophos, cinerin I, cinerin II, cinerins, closantel, coumaphos, crotamiton, crotoxyphos, cufraneb, cyanthoate, DCPM, DDT, demephion, demephion-O, demephion-S, demeton-methyl, demeton-O, demeton-O-methyl, demeton-S, demeton-S-methyl, demeton-S-methylsulfon, dichlofluanid, dichlorvos, dicliphos, dienochlor, dimefox, dinex, dinex-diclexine, dinocap-4, dinocap-6, dinocton, dino-penton, dinosulfon, dinoterbon, dioxathion, diphenyl sulfone, disulfiram, DNOC, dofenapyn, doramectin, endothion, eprinomectin, ethoate-methyl, etrimfos, fenazaflor, fenbutatin oxide, fenothiocarb, fenpyrad, fen-pyroximate, fenpyrazamine, fenson, fentrifanil, flubenzimine, flucycloxuron, fluenetil, fluorbenside, FMC 1137, formetanate, formetanate hydrochloride, formparanate, gamma-HCH, glyodin, halfenprox, hexadecyl cyclopropanecarboxylate, isocarbophos, jasmolin I, jasmolin II, jodfenphos, lindane, malonoben, mecarbam, mephosfolan, mesulfen, methacrifos, methyl bromide, metolcarb, mexacarbate, milbemycin oxime, mipafox, monocrotophos, morphothion, moxidectin, naled, 4-chloro-2-(2-chloro-2-methyl-propyl)-5-[(6-iodo-3-pyridyl)methoxy]pyridazin-3-one, nifluridide, nikkomycins, nitrilacarb, nitrilacarb 1:1 zinc chloride complex, omethoate, oxydeprofos, oxydisulfoton, pp′-DDT, parathion, permethrin, phenkapton, phosalone, phosfolan, phosphamidon, polychloroterpenes, polynactins, proclonol, promacyl, propoxur, prothidathion, prothoate, pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, pyrethrins, pyridaphenthion, pyrimitate, quinalphos, quintiofos, R-1492, phosglycin, rotenone, schradan, sebufos, selamectin, sophamide, SSI-121, sulfiram, sulfluramid, sulfotep, sulfur, diflovidazin, tau-fluvalinate, TEPP, terbam, tetradifon, tetrasul, thiafenox, thiocarboxime, thiofanox, thiometon, thioquinox, thuringiensin, triamiphos, triarathene, triazophos, triazuron, trifenofos, trinactin, vamidothion, vaniliprole, bethoxazin, copper dioctanoate, copper sulfate, cybutryne, dichlone, dichlorophen, endothal, fentin, hydrated lime, nabam, quinoclamine, quinonamid, simazine, triphenyltin acetate, triphenyltin hydroxide, crufomate, piperazine, thiophanate, chloralose, fenthion, pyridin-4-amine, strychnine, 1-hydroxy-1H-pyridine-2-thione, 4-(quinoxalin-2-ylamino)benzenesulfonamide, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, bronopol, copper hydroxide, cresol, dipyrithione, dodicin, fenaminosulf, formaldehyde, hydrargaphen, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate, nickel bis(dimethyldithiocarbamate), nitrapyrin, octhilinone, oxolinic acid, oxytetracycline, potassium hydroxyquinoline sulfate, probenazole, streptomycin, streptomycin sesquisulfate, tecloftalam, thiomersal, Adoxophyes orana GV, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Amblyseius spp., Anagrapha falcifera NPV, Anagrus atomus, Aphelinus abdominalis, Aphidius colemani, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Autographa californica NPV, Bacillus sphaericus Neide, Beauveria brongniartii, Chrysoperla carnea, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Cydia pomonella GV, Dacnusa sibirica, Diglyphus isaea, Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus eremicus, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and H. megidis, Hippodamia convergens, Leptomastix dactylopii, Macrolophus caliginosus, Mamestra brassicae NPV, Metaphycus helvolus, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae, Neodiprion sertifer NPV and N. lecontei NPV, Orius spp., Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Steinernema bibionis, Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema glaseri, Steinernema riobrave, Steinernema riobravis, Steinernema scapterisci, Steinernema spp., Trichogramma spp., Typhlodromus occidentalis, Verticillium lecanii, apholate, bisazir, busulfan, dimatif, hemel, hempa, metepa, methiotepa, methyl apholate, morzid, penfluron, tepa, thiohempa, thiotepa, tretamine, uredepa, (E)-dec-5-en-1-yl acetate with (E)-dec-5-en-1-ol, (E)-tridec-4-en-1-yl acetate, (E)-6-methylhept-2-en-4-ol, (E,Z)-tetradeca-4,10-dien-1-yl acetate, (Z)-dodec-7-en-1-yl acetate, (Z)-hexadec-11-enal, (Z)-hexadec-11-en-1-yl acetate, (Z)-hexadec-13-en-11-yn-1-yl acetate, (Z)-icos-13-en-10-one, (Z)-tetradec-7-en-1-al, (Z)-tetradec-9-en-1-ol, (Z)-tetradec-9-en-1-yl acetate, (7E,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dien-1-yl acetate, (9Z,11E)-tetradeca-9,11-dien-1-yl acetate, (9Z,12E)-tetradeca-9,12-dien-1-yl acetate, 14-methyloctadec-1-ene, 4-methylnonan-5-ol with 4-methylnonan-5-one, alpha-multistriatin, brevicomin, codlelure, codlemone, cuelure, disparlure, dodec-8-en-1-yl acetate, dodec-9-en-1-yl acetate, dodeca-8,10-dien-1-yl acetate, dominicalure, ethyl 4-methyloctanoate, eugenol, frontalin, grandlure, grandlure I, grandlure II, grandlure III, grandlure IV, hexalure, ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, lineatin, litlure, looplure, medlure, megatomoic acid, methyl eugenol, muscalure, octadeca-2,13-dien-1-yl acetate, octadeca-3,13-dien-1-yl acetate, orfralure, oryctalure, ostramone, siglure, sordidin, sulcatol, tetradec-11-en-1-yl acetate, trimedlure, trimedlure A, trimedlure B₁, trimedlure B₂, trimedlure C, trunc-call, 2-(octylthio)-ethanol, butopyronoxyl, butoxy(polypropylene glycol), dibutyl adipate, dibutyl phthalate, dibutyl succinate, diethyltoluamide, dimethyl carbate, dimethyl phthalate, ethyl hexanediol, hexamide, methoquin-butyl, methylneodecanamide, oxamate, picaridin, 1-dichloro-1-nitroethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-ethylphenyl)-ethane, 1,2-dichloropropane with 1,3-dichloropropene, 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 2,2,2-trichloro-1-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)ethyl acetate, 2,2-dichlorovinyl 2-ethylsulfinylethyl methyl phosphate, 2-(1,3-dithiolan-2-yl)phenyl dimethylcarbamate, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl thiocyanate, 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)phenyl methylcarbamate, 2-(4-chloro-3,5-xylyloxy)ethanol, 2-chlorovinyl diethyl phosphate, 2-imidazolidone, 2-isovalerylindan-1,3-dione, 2-methyl(prop-2-ynyl)aminophenyl methylcarbamate, 2-thiocyanatoethyl laurate, 3-bromo-1-chloroprop-1-ene, 3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-yl dimethyl-carbamate, 4-methyl(prop-2-ynyl)amino-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate, 5,5-dimethyl-3-oxocyclohex-1-enyl dimethylcarbamate, acethion, acrylonitrile, aldrin, allosamidin, allyxycarb, alpha-ecdysone, aluminium phosphide, aminocarb, anabasine, athidathion, azamethiphos, Bacillus thuringiensis delta endotoxins, barium hexafluorosilicate, barium polysulfide, barthrin, Bayer 22/190, Bayer 22408, beta-cyfluthrin, beta-cypermethrin, bioethanomethrin, biopermethrin, bis(2-chloroethyl) ether, borax, bromfenvinfos, bromo-DDT, bufencarb, butacarb, butathiofos, butonate, calcium arsenate, calcium cyanide, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, cartap hydrochloride, cevadine, chlorbicyclen, chlordane, chlordecone, chloroform, chloropicrin, chlorphoxim, chlorprazophos, cis-resmethrin, cismethrin, clocythrin, copper acetoarsenite, copper arsenate, copper oleate, coumithoate, cryolite, CS 708, cyanofenphos, cyanophos, cyclethrin, cythioate, d-tetramethrin, DAEP, dazomet, decarbofuran, diamidafos, dicapthon, dichlofenthion, dicresyl, dicyclanil, dieldrin, diethyl 5-methylpyrazol-3-yl phosphate, dilor, dimefluthrin, dimetan, dimethrin, dimethylvinphos, dimetilan, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, diofenolan, dioxabenzofos, dithicrofos, DSP, ecdysterone, EI 1642, EMPC, EPBP, etaphos, ethiofencarb, ethyl formate, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, ethylene oxide, EXD, fenchlorphos, fenethacarb, fenitrothion, fenoxacrim, fenpirithrin, fensulfothion, fenthion-ethyl, flucofuron, fosmethilan, fospirate, fosthietan, furathiocarb, furethrin, guazatine, guazatine acetates, sodium tetrathiocarbonate, halfenprox, HCH, HEOD, heptachlor, heterophos, HHDN, hydrogen cyanide, hyquincarb, IPSP, isazofos, isobenzan, isodrin, isofenphos, isolane, isoprothiolane, isoxathion, juvenile hormone I, juvenile hormone II, juvenile hormone III, kelevan, kinoprene, lead arsenate, leptophos, lirimfos, lythidathion, m-cumenyl methylcarbamate, magnesium phosphide, mazidox, mecarphon, menazon, mercurous chloride, mesulfenfos, metam, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, methanesulfonyl fluoride, methocrotophos, methoprene, methothrin, methoxychlor, methyl isothiocyanate, methylchloroform, methylene chloride, metoxadiazone, mirex, naftalofos, naphthalene, NC-170, nicotine, nicotine sulfate, nithiazine, nornicotine, O-5-dichloro-4-iodophenyl O-ethyl ethylphosphonothioate, O,O-diethyl O-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl phosphorothioate, O,O-diethyl O-6-methyl-2-propylpyrimidin-4-yl phosphorothioate, O,O,O′,O′-tetrapropyl dithiopyrophosphate, oleic acid, para-dichlorobenzene, parathion-methyl, pentachlorophenol, pentachlorophenyl laurate, PH 60-38, phenkapton, phosnichlor, phosphine, phoxim-methyl, pirimetaphos, polychlorodicyclopentadiene isomers, potassium arsenite, potassium thiocyanate, precocene I, precocene II, precocene III, primidophos, profluthrin, promecarb, prothiofos, pyrazophos, pyresmethrin, quassia, quinalphos-methyl, quinothion, rafoxanide, resmethrin, rotenone, kadethrin, ryania, ryanodine, sabadilla), schradan, sebufos, SI-0009, thiapronil, sodium arsenite, sodium cyanide, sodium fluoride, sodium hexafluorosilicate, sodium pentachlorophenoxide, sodium selenate, sodium thiocyanate, sulcofuron, sulcofuron-sodium, sulfuryl fluoride, sulprofos, tar oils, tazimcarb, TDE, tebupirimfos, temephos, terallethrin, tetrachloroethane, thicrofos, thiocyclam, thiocyclam hydrogen oxalate, thionazin, thiosultap, thiosultap-sodium, tralomethrin, transpermethrin, triazamate, trichlormetaphos-3, trichloronat, trimethacarb, tolprocarb, triclopyricarb, triprene, veratridine, veratrine, XMC, zetamethrin, zinc phosphide, zolaprofos, and meperfluthrin, tetramethylfluthrin, bis(tributyltin) oxide, bromoacetamide, ferric phosphate, niclosamide-olamine, tributyltin oxide, pyrimorph, trifenmorph, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, 1,3-dichloropropene, 3,4-dichlorotetrahydrothio-phene 1,1-dioxide, 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylrhodanine, 5-methyl-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-ylacetic acid, 6-isopentenylaminopurine, 2-fluoro-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-9H-purin-6-amine, benclothiaz, cytokinins, DCIP, furfural, isamidofos, kinetin, Myrothecium verrucaria composition, tetrachlorothiophene, xylenols, zeatin, potassium ethylxanthate, acibenzolar, acibenzolar-S-methyl, Reynoutria sachalinensis extract, alpha-chlorohydrin, antu, barium carbonate, bisthiosemi, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, bromethalin, chlorophacinone, cholecalciferol, coumachlor, coumafuryl, coumatetralyl, crimidine, difenacoum, difethialone, diphacinone, ergocalciferol, flocoumafen, fluoroacetamide, flupropadine, flupropadine hydrochloride, norbormide, phosacetim, phosphorus, pindone, pyrinuron, scilliroside, sodium fluoro-acetate, thallium sulfate, warfarin, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)-ethyl piperonylate, 5-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-3-hexylcyclohex-2-enone, farnesol with nerolidol, verbutin, MGK 264, piperonyl butoxide, piprotal, propyl isomer, S421, sesamex, sesasmolin, sulfoxide, anthraquinone, copper naphthenate, copper oxychloride, dicyclopentadiene, thiram, zinc naphthenate, ziram, imanin, ribavirin, mercuric oxide, thiophanate-methyl, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, epoxicon-azole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furametpyr, hexaconazole, imazalil, imiben-con-azole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, paclobutrazole, pefurazoate, penconazole, prothioconazole, pyrifenox, prochloraz, propiconazole, pyrisoxazole, simeconazole, tebucon-azole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadime-nol, triflumizole, triticonazole, ancymidol, fenarimol, nuarimol, bupirimate, dimethirimol, ethirimol, dodemorph, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, spiroxamine, tridemorph, cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil, fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, benalaxyl, furalaxyl, meta-laxyl, R-metalaxyl, ofurace, oxadixyl, carbendazim, debacarb, fuberidazole, thiaben-dazole, chlozolinate, dichlozoline, myclozoline, procymi-done, vinclozoline, boscalid, carboxin, fenfuram, flutolanil, mepronil, oxycarboxin, penthiopyrad, thifluzamide, dodine, iminoctadine, azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fenaminstrobin, flufenoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metomi-nostrobin, trifloxystrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, ferbam, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, propineb, zineb, captafol, captan, fluoroimide, folpet, tolylfluanid, bordeaux mixture, copper oxide, mancopper, oxine-copper, nitrothal-isopropyl, edifenphos, iprobenphos, phosdiphen, tolclofos-methyl, anilazine, benthiavalicarb, blasticidin-S, chloroneb, chloro-tha-lo-nil, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, cyclobutrifluram, diclocymet, diclomezine, dicloran, diethofencarb, dimetho-morph, flumorph, dithianon, ethaboxam, etridiazole, famoxa-done, fenamidone, fenoxanil, ferimzone, fluazinam, fluopicolide, flusulfamide, fluxapyroxad, fenhexamid, fos-etyl-aluminium, hymexazol, iprovalicarb, cyazofamid, methasulfo-carb, metrafenone, pencycuron, phthalide, polyoxins, propamocarb, pyribencarb, proquinazid, pyroquilon, pyriofenone, quinoxyfen, quintozene, tiadinil, triazoxide, tricyclazole, triforine, validamycin, valifenalate, zoxamide, mandipropamid, flubeneteram, isopyrazam, sedaxane, benzovindiflupyr, pydiflumetofen, 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (3′,4′,5′-trifluoro-biphenyl-2-yl)-amide, isoflucypram, isotianil, dipymetitrone, 6-ethyl-5,7-dioxo-pyrrolo[4,5][1,4]dithiino[1,2-c]isothiazole-3-carbonitrile, 2-(difluoromethyl)-N-[3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide, 4-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-6-methyl-5-phenyl-pyridazine-3-carbonitrile, (R)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl]pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 4-(2-bromo-4-fluoro-phenyl)-N-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-phenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-3-amine, 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-1, 3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine, fluindapyr, coumethoxystrobin (jiaxiangjunzhi), Ivbenmixianan, dichlobentiazox, mandestrobin, 3-(4,4-difluoro-3,4-dihydro-3,3-dimethylisoquinolin-1-yl)quinolone, 2-[2-fluoro-6-[(8-fluoro-2-methyl-3-quinolyl)oxy]phenyl]propan-2-ol, oxathiapiprolin, tert-butyl N-[6-[[[(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl-methylene]amino]oxymethyl]-2-pyridyl]carbamate, pyraziflumid, inpyrfluxam, trolprocarb, mefentrifluconazole, ipfentrifluconazole, 2-(difluoromethyl)-N-[(3R)-3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide, N′-(2,5-dimethyl-4-phenoxy-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine, N′-[4-(4,5-dichlorothiazol-2-yl)oxy-2,5-dimethylphenyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine, [2-[3-[2-[1-[2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4-piperidyl]thiazol-4-yl]-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl]-3-chloro-phenyl] methanesulfonate, but-3-ynyl N-[6-[[(Z)-[(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl-methylene]amino]oxymethyl]-2-pyridyl]carbamate, methyl N-[[5-[4-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)triazol-2-yl]-2-methyl-phenyl]methyl]carbamate, 3-chloro-6-methyl-5-phenyl-4-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)pyridazine, pyridachlometyl, 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl]pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 1-[2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]-3-methyl-phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one, 1-methyl-4-[3-methyl-2-[[2-methyl-4-(3,4,5-trimethylpyrazol-1-yl)phenoxy]methyl]phenyl]tetrazol-5-one, aminopyrifen, ametoctradin, amisulbrom, penflufen, (Z,2E)-5-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxy-2-methoxyimino-N,3-dimethyl-pent-3-enamide, florylpicoxamid, fenpicoxamid, tebufloquin, ipflufenoquin, quinofumelin, isofetamid, N-[2-[2,4-dichloro-phenoxy]phenyl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-[2-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]phenyl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, benzothiostrobin, phenamacril, 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol zinc salt (2:1), fluopyram, flutianil, fluopimomide, pyrapropoyne, picarbutrazox, 2-(difluoromethyl)-N-(3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide, 2-(difluoromethyl)-N-((3R)-1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl) pyridine-3-carboxamide, 4-[[6-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]-3-pyridyl]oxy]benzonitrile, metyltetraprole, 2-(difiuoromethyl)-N-((3R)-1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl) pyridine-3-carboxamide. α-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-α-[4′ (trifluoromethoxy)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]-5-pyrinidinernethanol, fluoxapiprolin, enoxastrobin, 4-[[6-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]-3-pyridyl]oxy] benzonitrile, 4-[[6-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-2-hydroxy-3-(5-sulfanyl-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]-3-pyridyl]oxy]benzonitrile, 4-[[6-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-2-hydroxy-3-(5-thioxo-4H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]-3-pyridyl]oxy]benzonitrile, trinexapac, coumoxystrobin, zhongshengmycin, thiodiazole copper, zinc thiazole, amectotractin, iprodione, N-octyl-N′-[2-(octylamino)ethyl]ethane-1,2-diamine, N′-[5-bromo-2-methyl-6-[(1S)-1-methyl-2-propoxy-ethoxy]-3-pyridyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine, N′-[5-bromo-2-methyl-6-[(1R)-1-methyl-2-propoxy-ethoxy]-3-pyridyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine, N′-[5-bromo-2-methyl-6-(1-methyl-2-propoxy-ethoxy)-3-pyridyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine, N′-[5-chloro-2-methyl-6-(1-methyl-2-propoxy-ethoxy)-3-pyridyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine, N′-[5-bromo-2-methyl-6-(1-methyl-2-propoxy-ethoxy)-3-pyridyl]-N-isopropyl-N-methyl-formamidine (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO2015/155075); N′-[5-bromo-2-methyl-6-(2-propoxypropoxy)-3-pyridyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in IPCOM000249876D); N-isopropyl-N′-[5-methoxy-2-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxy-1-phenyl-ethyl)phenyl]-N-methyl-formamidine, N′-[4-(1-cyclopropyl-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxy-ethyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-phenyl]-N-isopropyl-N-methyl-formamidine (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO2018/228896); N-ethyl-N′-[5-methoxy-2-methyl-4-[2-trifluoromethyl)oxetan-2-yl]phenyl]-N-methyl-formamidine, N-ethyl-N′-[5-methoxy-2-methyl-4-[2-trifuoromethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl]phenyl]-N-methyl-formamidine (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO2019/110427); N-[(1R)-1-benzyl-3-chloro-1-methyl-but-3-enyl]-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1S)-1-benzyl-3-chloro-1-methyl-but-3-enyl]-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1R)-1-benzyl-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-methyl-propyl]-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1S)-1-benzyl-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-methyl-propyl]-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1R)-1-benzyl-1,3-dimethyl-butyl]-7,8-difluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1 S)-1-benzyl-1,3-dimethylbutyl]-7,8-difluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, 8-fluoro-N-[(1R)-1-[(3-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dimethyl-butyl]quinoline-3-carboxamide, 8-fluoro-N-[(1 S)-1-[(3-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dimethyl-butyl]quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1R)-1-benzyl-1,3-dimethyl-butyl]-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-[(1S)-1-benzyl-1,3-dimethyl-butyl]-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-((1R)-1-benzyl-3-chloro-1-methyl-but-3-enyl)-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide, N-((1S)-1-benzyl-3-chloro-1-methyl-but-3-enyl)-8-fluoro-quinoline-3-carboxamide (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO2017/153380); 1-(6,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)-4,4,5-trifluoro-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline, 1-(6,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)-4,4,6-trifluoro-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline, 4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-1-(6-methylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)isoquinoline, 4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-1-(7-methylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)isoquinoline, 1-(6-chloro-7-methyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)-4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO2017/025510); 1-(4,5-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-4,4,5-trifluoro-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline, 1-(4,5-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline, 6-chloro-4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-1-(4-methylbenzimidazol-1-yl)isoquinoline, 4,4-difluoro-1-(5-fluoro-4-methyl-benzimidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline, 3-(4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-1-isoquinolyl)-7,8-dihydro-6H-cyclopenta[e]benzimidazole (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO2016/156085); N-methoxy-N-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide, N,2-dimethoxy-N-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]propanamide, N-ethyl-2-methyl-N-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]propanamide, 1-methoxy-3-methyl-1-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]urea, 1,3-dimethoxy-1-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]urea, 3-ethyl-1-methoxy-1-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]urea, N-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]propanamide, 4,4-dimethyl-2-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]isoxazolidin-3-one, 5,5-dimethyl-2-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]isoxazolidin-3-one, ethyl 1-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]pyrazole-4-carboxylate, N,N-dimethyl-1-[[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methyl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2017/055473, WO 2017/055469, WO 2017/093348 and WO 2017/118689); 2-[6-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2017/029179); 2-[6-(4-bromophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2017/029179); 3-[2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-propyl]imidazole-4-carbonitrile (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2016/156290); 3-[2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(3-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl)-2-hydroxy-propyl]imidazole-4-carbonitrile (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2016/156290); (4-phenoxyphenyl)methyl 2-amino-6-methyl-pyridine-3-carboxylate (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2014/006945); 2,6-Dimethyl-1H,5H-[1,4]dithiino[2,3-c:5,6-c′]dipyrrole-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetrone (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2011/138281) N-methyl-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzenecarbothioamide; N-methyl-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzamide; (Z,2E)-5-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxy-2-methoxyimino-N,3-dimethyl-pent-3-enamide (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2018/153707); N′-(2-chloro-5-methyl-4-phenoxy-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine; N′-[2-chloro-4-(2-fluorophenoxy)-5-methyl-phenyl]-N-ethyl-N-methyl-formamidine (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2016/202742); 2-(difluoromethyl)-N-[(3S)-3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2014/095675); (5-methyl-2-pyridyl)-[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methanone, (3-methylisoxazol-5-yl)-[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]methanone (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2017/220485); 2-oxo-N-propyl-2-[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]acetamide (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2018/065414); ethyl 1-[[5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]-2-thienyl]methyl]pyrazole-4-carboxylate (this compound may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2018/158365); 2,2-difluoro-N-methyl-2-[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]phenyl]acetamide, N-[(E)-methoxyiminomethyl]-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzamide, N-[(Z)-methoxyiminomethyl]-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzamide, N-[N-methoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzamide (these compounds may be prepared from the methods described in WO 2018/202428).

The compounds of the invention may also be used in combination with anthelmintic agents. Such anthelmintic agents include, compounds selected from the macrocyclic lactone class of compounds such as ivermectin, avermectin, abamectin, emamectin, eprinomectin, doramectin, selamectin, moxidectin, nemadectin and milbemycin derivatives as described in EP-357460, EP-444964 and EP-594291. Additional anthelmintic agents include semisynthetic and biosynthetic avermectin/milbemycin derivatives such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,630, WO-9415944 and WO-9522552. Additional anthelmintic agents include the benzimidazoles such as albendazole, cambendazole, fenbendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole, oxfendazole, oxibendazole, parbendazole, and other members of the class. Additional anthelmintic agents include imidazothiazoles and tetrahydropyrimidines such as tetramisole, levamisole, pyrantel pamoate, oxantel or morantel. Additional anthelmintic agents include flukicides, such as triclabendazole and clorsulon and the cestocides, such as praziquantel and epsiprantel.

The compounds of the invention may be used in combination with derivatives and analogues of the paraherquamide/marcfortine class of anthelmintic agents, as well as the antiparasitic oxazolines such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,478,855, 4,639,771 and DE-19520936.

The compounds of the invention may be used in combination with derivatives and analogues of the general class of dioxomorpholine antiparasitic agents as described in WO-9615121 and also with anthelmintic active cyclic depsipeptides such as those described in WO-9611945, WO-9319053, WO-9325543, EP-626375, EP-382173, WO-9419334, EP-382173, and EP-503538.

The compounds of the invention may be used in combination with other ectoparasiticides; for example, fipronil; pyrethroids; organophosphates; insect growth regulators such as lufenuron; ecdysone agonists such as tebufenozide and the like; neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid and the like.

The compounds of the invention may be used in combination with terpene alkaloids, for example those described in WO 95/19363 or WO 04/72086, particularly the compounds disclosed therein.

Other examples of such biologically active compounds that the compounds of the invention may be used in combination with include but are not restricted to the following: Organophosphates: acephate, azamethiphos, azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, bromophos, bromophos-ethyl, cadusafos, chlorethoxyphos, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, demeton, demeton-S-methyl, demeton-S-methyl sulphone, dialifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, dicrotophos, dimethoate, disulfoton, ethion, ethoprophos, etrimfos, famphur, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fensulfothion, fenthion, flupyrazofos, fonofos, formothion, fosthiazate, heptenophos, isazophos, isothioate, isoxathion, malathion, methacriphos, methamidophos, methidathion, methyl-parathion, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, omethoate, oxydemeton-methyl, paraoxon, parathion, parathion-methyl, phenthoate, phosalone, phosfolan, phosphocarb, phosmet, phosphamidon, phorate, phoxim, pirimiphos, pirimiphos-methyl, profenofos, propaphos, proetamphos, prothiofos, pyraclofos, pyridapenthion, quinalphos, sulprophos, temephos, terbufos, tebupirimfos, tetrachlorvinphos, thimeton, triazophos, trichlorfon, vamidothion.

Carbamates: alanycarb, aldicarb, 2-sec-butylphenyl methylcarbamate, benfuracarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, cloethocarb, ethiofencarb, fenoxycarb, fenthiocarb, furathiocarb, HCN-801, isoprocarb, indoxacarb, methiocarb, methomyl, 5-methyl-m-cumenylbutyryl(methyl)carbamate, oxamyl, pirimicarb, propoxur, thiodicarb, thiofanox, triazamate, UC-51717.

Pyrethroids: acrinathin, allethrin, alphametrin, 5-benzyl-3-furylmethyl (E)-(1R)-cis-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-oxothiolan-3-ylidenemethyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate, bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, cyfluthrin, a-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, bioallethrin, bioallethrin((S)-cyclopentylisomer), bioresmethrin, bifenthrin, NCI-85193, cycloprothrin, cyhalothrin, cythithrin, cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, esfenvalerate, ethofenprox, fenfluthrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate, flumethrin, fluvalinate (D isomer), imiprothrin, cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, pyrethrins (natural products), resmethrin, tetramethrin, transfluthrin, theta-cypermethrin, silafluofen, t-fluvalinate, tefluthrin, tralomethrin, Zeta-cypermethrin.

Arthropod growth regulators: a) chitin synthesis inhibitors: benzoylureas: chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, fluazuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, teflubenzuron, triflumuron, buprofezin, diofenolan, hexythiazox, etoxazole, chlorfentazine; b) ecdysone antagonists: halofenozide, methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide; c) juvenoids: pyriproxyfen, methoprene (including S-methoprene), fenoxycarb; d) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors: spirodiclofen.

Other antiparasitics: acequinocyl, amitraz, AKD-1022, ANS-118, azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, bensultap, bifenazate, binapacryl, bromopropylate, BTG-504, BTG-505, camphechlor, cartap, chlorobenzilate, chlordimeform, chlorfenapyr, chromafenozide, clothianidine, cyromazine, diacloden, diafenthiuron, DBI-3204, dinactin, dihydroxymethyldihydroxypyrrolidine, dinobuton, dinocap, endosulfan, ethiprole, ethofenprox, fenazaquin, flumite, MTI-800, fenpyroximate, fluacrypyrim, flubenzimine, flubrocythrinate, flufenzine, flufenprox, fluproxyfen, halofenprox, hydramethylnon, IKI-220, kanemite, NC-196, neem guard, nidinorterfuran, nitenpyram, SD-35651, WL-108477, pirydaryl, propargite, protrifenbute, pymethrozine, pyridaben, pyrimidifen, NC-1111, R-195, RH-0345, RH-2485, RYI-210, S-1283, S-1833, SI-8601, silafluofen, silomadine, spinosad, tebufenpyrad, tetradifon, tetranactin, thiacloprid, thiocyclam, thiamethoxam, tolfenpyrad, triazamate, triethoxyspinosyn, trinactin, verbutin, vertalec, YI-5301.

Biological agents: Bacillus thuringiensis ssp aizawai, kurstaki, Bacillus thuringiensis delta endotoxin, baculovirus, entomopathogenic bacteria, virus and fungi.

Bactericides: chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, streptomycin.

Other biological agents: enrofloxacin, febantel, penethamate, moloxicam, cefalexin, kanamycin, pimobendan, clenbuterol, omeprazole, tiamulin, benazepril, pyriprole, cefquinome, florfenicol, buserelin, cefovecin, tulathromycin, ceftiour, carprofen, metaflumizone, praziquarantel, triclabendazole.

Another aspect of invention is related to the use of a compound of formula (I) or of a preferred individual compound as above-defined, of a composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I) or at least one preferred individual compound as above-defined, or of a fungicidal or insecticidal mixture comprising at least one compound of formula (I) or at least one preferred individual compound as above-defined, in admixture with other fungicides or insecticides as described above, for controlling or preventing infestation of plants, e.g. useful plants such as crop plants, propagation material thereof, e.g. seeds, harvested crops, e.g., harvested food crops, or non-living materials by insects or by phytopathogenic microorganisms, preferably fungal organisms.

A further aspect of invention is related to a method of controlling or preventing an infestation of plants, e.g., useful plants such as crop plants, propagation material thereof, e.g. seeds, harvested crops, e.g. harvested food crops, or of non-living materials by insects or by phytopathogenic or spoilage microorganisms or organisms potentially harmful to man, especially fungal organisms, which comprises the application of a compound of formula (I) or of a preferred individual compound as above-defined as active ingredient to the plants, to parts of the plants or to the locus thereof, to the propagation material thereof, or to any part of the non-living materials.

Controlling or preventing means reducing infestation by insects or by phytopathogenic or spoilage microorganisms or organisms potentially harmful to man, especially fungal organisms, to such a level that an improvement is demonstrated.

A preferred method of controlling or preventing an infestation of crop plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, especially fungal organisms, or insects which comprises the application of a compound of formula (I), or an agrochemical composition which contains at least one of said compounds, is foliar application. The frequency of application and the rate of application will depend on the risk of infestation by the corresponding pathogen or insect. However, the compounds of formula (I) can also penetrate the plant through the roots via the soil (systemic action) by drenching the locus of the plant with a liquid formulation, or by applying the compounds in solid form to the soil, e.g., in granular form (soil application). In crops of water rice such granulates can be applied to the flooded rice field. The compounds of formula (I) may also be applied to seeds (coating) by impregnating the seeds or tubers either with a liquid formulation of the fungicide or coating them with a solid formulation.

A formulation, e.g. a composition containing the compound of formula (I), and, if desired, a solid or liquid adjuvant or monomers for encapsulating the compound of formula (I), may be prepared in a known manner, typically by intimately mixing and/or grinding the compound with extenders, for example solvents, solid carriers and, optionally, surface active compounds (surfactants).

Advantageous rates of application are normally from 5 g to 2 kg of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare (ha), preferably from 10 g to 1 kg a.i./ha, most preferably from 20 g to 600 g a.i./ha. When used as seed drenching agent, convenient dosages are from 10 mg to 1 g of active substance per kg of seeds.

When the combinations of the present invention are used for treating seed, rates of 0.001 to 50 g of a compound of formula (I) per kg of seed, preferably from 0.01 to 10 g per kg of seed are generally sufficient.

The compositions of the invention may be employed in any conventional form, for example in the form of a twin pack, a powder for dry seed treatment (DS), an emulsion for seed treatment (ES), a flowable concentrate for seed treatment (FS), a solution for seed treatment (LS), a water dispersible powder for seed treatment (WS), a capsule suspension for seed treatment (CF), a gel for seed treatment (GF), an emulsion concentrate (EC), a suspension concentrate (SC), a suspo-emulsion (SE), a capsule suspension (CS), a water dispersible granule (WG), an emulsifiable granule (EG), an emulsion, water in oil (EO), an emulsion, oil in water (EW), a micro-emulsion (ME), an oil dispersion (OD), an oil miscible flowable (OF), an oil miscible liquid (OL), a soluble concentrate (SL), an ultra-low volume suspension (SU), an ultra-low volume liquid (UL), a technical concentrate (TK), a dispersible concentrate (DC), a wettable powder (WP) or any technically feasible formulation in combination with agriculturally acceptable adjuvants.

Such compositions may be produced in conventional manner, e.g., by mixing the active ingredients with appropriate formulation inerts (diluents, solvents, fillers and optionally other formulating ingredients such as surfactants, biocides, anti-freeze, stickers, thickeners and compounds that provide adjuvancy effects). Also conventional slow release formulations may be employed where long lasting efficacy is intended. Particularly formulations to be applied in spraying forms, such as water dispersible concentrates (e.g. EC, SC, DC, OD, SE, EW, EO and the like), wettable powders and granules, may contain surfactants such as wetting and dispersing agents and other compounds that provide adjuvancy effects, e.g. the condensation product of formaldehyde with naphthalene sulphonate, an alkylarylsulphonate, a lignin sulphonate, a fatty alkyl sulphate, and ethoxylated alkylphenol and an ethoxylated fatty alcohol.

A seed dressing formulation is applied in a manner known per se to the seeds employing the combination of the invention and a diluent in suitable seed dressing formulation form, e.g., as an aqueous suspension or in a dry powder form having good adherence to the seeds. Such seed dressing formulations are known in the art. Seed dressing formulations may contain the single active ingredients or the combination of active ingredients in encapsulated form, e.g. as slow release capsules or microcapsules.

In general, the formulations include from 0.01 to 90% by weight of active agent, from 0 to 20% agriculturally acceptable surfactant and 10 to 99.99% solid or liquid formulation inerts and adjuvant(s), the active agent consisting of at least the compound of formula (I) together with component (B) and (C), and optionally other active agents, particularly microbiocides or conservatives or the like. Concentrated forms of compositions generally contain in between about 2 and 80%, preferably between about 5 and 70% by weight of active agent. Application forms of formulation may for example contain from 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 5% by weight of active agent. Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated as concentrates, the end user will normally employ diluted formulations.

Table 1 below illustrates examples of individual compounds of formula (2) according to the invention.

TABLE 1 Individual compounds of formula (I) according to the invention Cpd No. R² R³ R⁵ 001 H H phenyl 002 H CH₃ phenyl 003 H CH₂CH₃ phenyl 004 H F phenyl 005 CH₃ H phenyl 006 CH₃ CH₃ phenyl 007 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ phenyl 008 CH₃ F phenyl 009 CH₂CH₃ H phenyl 010 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ phenyl 011 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ phenyl 012 CH₂CH₃ F phenyl 013 F H phenyl 014 F CH₃ phenyl 015 F CH₂CH₃ phenyl 016 F F phenyl 017 H H 3-fluorophenyl 018 H CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 019 H CH₂CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 020 H F 3-fluorophenyl 021 CH₃ H 3-fluorophenyl 022 CH₃ CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 023 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 024 CH₃ F 3-fluorophenyl 025 CH₂CH₃ H 3-fluorophenyl 026 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 027 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 028 CH₂CH₃ F 3-fluorophenyl 029 F H 3-fluorophenyl 030 F CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 031 F CH₂CH₃ 3-fluorophenyl 032 F F 3-fluorophenyl 033 H H 3,5-difluorophenyl 034 H CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 035 H CH₂CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 036 H F 3,5-difluorophenyl 037 CH₃ H 3,5-difluorophenyl 038 CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 039 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 040 CH₃ F 3,5-difluorophenyl 041 CH₂CH₃ H 3,5-difluorophenyl 042 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 043 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 044 CH₂CH₃ F 3,5-difluorophenyl 045 F H 3,5-difluorophenyl 046 F CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 047 F CH₂CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 048 F F 3,5-difluorophenyl 049 H H 3-chlorophenyl 050 H CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 051 H CH₂CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 052 H F 3-chlorophenyl 053 CH₃ H 3-chlorophenyl 054 CH₃ CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 055 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 056 CH₃ F 3-chlorophenyl 057 CH₂CH₃ H 3-chlorophenyl 058 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 059 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 060 CH₂CH₃ F 3-chlorophenyl 061 F H 3-chlorophenyl 062 F CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 063 F CH₂CH₃ 3-chlorophenyl 064 F F 3-chlorophenyl 065 H H 3,5-dichlorophenyl 066 H CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 067 H CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 068 H F 3,5-dichlorophenyl 069 CH₃ H 3,5-dichlorophenyl 070 CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 071 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 072 CH₃ F 3,5-dichlorophenyl 073 CH₂CH₃ H 3,5-dichlorophenyl 074 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 075 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 076 CH₂CH₃ F 3,5-dichlorophenyl 077 F H 3,5-dichlorophenyl 078 F CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 079 F CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dichlorophenyl 080 F F 3,5-dichlorophenyl 081 H H 3-methylphenyl 082 H CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 083 H CH₂CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 084 H F 3-methylphenyl 085 CH₃ H 3-methylphenyl 086 CH₃ CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 087 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 088 CH₃ F 3-methylphenyl 089 CH₂CH₃ H 3-methylphenyl 090 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 091 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 092 CH₂CH₃ F 3-methylphenyl 093 F H 3-methylphenyl 094 F CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 095 F CH₂CH₃ 3-methylphenyl 096 F F 3-methylphenyl 097 H H 3,5-dimethylphenyl 098 H CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 099 H CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 100 H F 3,5-dimethylphenyl 101 CH₃ H 3,5-dimethylphenyl 102 CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 103 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 104 CH₃ F 3,5-dimethylphenyl 105 CH₂CH₃ H 3,5-dimethylphenyl 106 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 107 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 108 CH₂CH₃ F 3,5-dimethylphenyl 109 F H 3,5-dimethylphenyl 110 F CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 111 F CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethylphenyl 112 F F 3,5-dimethylphenyl 113 H H 3-methoxyphenyl 114 H CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 115 H CH₂CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 116 H F 3-methoxyphenyl 117 CH₃ H 3-methoxyphenyl 118 CH₃ CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 119 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 120 CH₃ F 3-methoxyphenyl 121 CH₂CH₃ H 3-methoxyphenyl 122 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 123 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 124 CH₂CH₃ F 3-methoxyphenyl 125 F H 3-methoxyphenyl 126 F CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 127 F CH₂CH₃ 3-methoxyphenyl 128 F F 3-methoxyphenyl 129 H H 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 130 H CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 131 H CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 132 H F 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 133 CH₃ H 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 134 CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 135 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 136 CH₃ F 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 137 CH₂CH₃ H 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 138 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 139 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 140 CH₂CH₃ F 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 141 F H 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 142 F CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 143 F CH₂CH₃ 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 144 F F 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl 145 H H pyridin-4-yl 146 H CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 147 H CH₂CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 148 H F pyridin-4-yl 149 CH₃ H pyridin-4-yl 150 CH₃ CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 151 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 152 CH₃ F pyridin-4-yl 153 CH₂CH₃ H pyridin-4-yl 154 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 155 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 156 CH₂CH₃ F pyridin-4-yl 157 F H pyridin-4-yl 158 F CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 159 F CH₂CH₃ pyridin-4-yl 160 F F pyridin-4-yl 161 H H 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 162 H CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 163 H CH₂CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 164 H F 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 165 CH₃ H 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 166 CH₃ CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 167 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 168 CH₃ F 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 169 CH₂CH₃ H 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 170 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 171 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 172 CH₂CH₃ F 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 173 F H 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 174 F CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 175 F CH₂CH₃ 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 176 F F 2-fluoropyridin-4-yl 177 H H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 178 H CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 179 H CH₂CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 180 H F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 181 CH₃ H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 182 CH₃ CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 183 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 184 CH₃ F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 185 CH₂CH₃ H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 186 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 187 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 188 CH₂CH₃ F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 189 F H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 190 F CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 191 F CH₂CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 192 F F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 193 H H 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 194 H CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 195 H CH₂CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 196 H F 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 197 CH₃ H 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 198 CH₃ CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 199 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 200 CH₃ F 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 201 CH₂CH₃ H 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 202 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 203 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 204 CH₂CH₃ F 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 205 F H 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 206 F CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 207 F CH₂CH₃ 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 208 F F 2-chloropyridin-4-yl 209 H H 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 210 H CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 211 H CH₂CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 212 H F 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 213 CH₃ H 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 214 CH₃ CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 215 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 216 CH₃ F 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 217 CH₂CH₃ H 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 218 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 219 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 220 CH₂CH₃ F 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 221 F H 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 222 F CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 223 F CH₂CH₃ 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 224 F F 2,6-dichloropyridin-4-yl 225 H H pyridin-3-yl 226 H CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 227 H CH₂CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 228 H F pyridin-3-yl 229 CH₃ H pyridin-3-yl 230 CH₃ CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 231 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 232 CH₃ F pyridin-3-yl 233 CH₂CH₃ H pyridin-3-yl 234 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 235 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 236 CH₂CH₃ F pyridin-3-yl 237 F H pyridin-3-yl 238 F CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 239 F CH₂CH₃ pyridin-3-yl 240 F F pyridin-3-yl 241 H H 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 242 H CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 243 H CH₂CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 244 H F 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 245 CH₃ H 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 246 CH₃ CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 247 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 248 CH₃ F 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 249 CH₂CH₃ H 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 250 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 251 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 252 CH₂CH₃ F 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 253 F H 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 254 F CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 255 F CH₂CH₃ 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 256 F F 6-fluoropyridin-3-yl 257 H H 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 258 H CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 259 H CH₂CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 260 H F 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 261 CH₃ H 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 262 CH₃ CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 263 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 264 CH₃ F 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 265 CH₂CH₃ H 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 266 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 267 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 268 CH₂CH₃ F 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 269 F H 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 270 F CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 271 F CH₂CH₃ 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 272 F F 5-fluoropyridin-3-yl 273 H H 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 274 H CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 275 H CH₂CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 276 H F 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 277 CH₃ H 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 278 CH₃ CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 279 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 280 CH₃ F 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 281 CH₂CH₃ H 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 282 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 283 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 284 CH₂CH₃ F 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 285 F H 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 286 F CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 287 F CH₂CH₃ 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 288 F F 6-chloropyridin-3-yl 289 H H 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 290 H CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 291 H CH₂CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 292 H F 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 293 CH₃ H 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 294 CH₃ CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 295 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 296 CH₃ F 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 297 CH₂CH₃ H 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 298 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 299 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 300 CH₂CH₃ F 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 301 F H 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 302 F CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 303 F CH₂CH₃ 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 304 F F 5-chloropyridin-3-yl 305 H H isothiazole-4-yl 306 H CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 307 H CH₂CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 308 H F isothiazole-4-yl 309 CH₃ H isothiazole-4-yl 310 CH₃ CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 311 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 312 CH₃ F isothiazole-4-yl 313 CH₂CH₃ H isothiazole-4-yl 314 CH₂CH₃ CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 315 CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 316 CH₂CH₃ F isothiazole-4-yl 317 F H isothiazole-4-yl 318 F CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 319 F CH₂CH₃ isothiazole-4-yl 320 F F isothiazole-4-yl wherein

a) 320 compounds of formula (I.a):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

b) 320 compounds of formula (I.b):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

c) 320 compounds of formula (I.c):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

d) 320 compounds of formula (I.d):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

e) 320 compounds of formula (I.e):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

f) 320 compounds of formula (I.f):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

g) 320 compounds of formula (I.g):

wherein R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 1.

TABLE 2 Individual compounds of formula (I) according to the invention Cpd Cpd No. R² R³ R⁵ Cpd No. R² R³ R⁵ No. R² 001 CN H H 3,5-difluorophenyl 019 CN H H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 002 CN H CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 020 CN H CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 003 CN H F 3,5-difluorophenyl 021 CN H F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 004 CN CH₃ H 3,5-difluorophenyl 022 CN CH₃ H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 005 CN CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 023 CN CH₃ CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 006 CN CH₃ F 3,5-difluorophenyl 024 CN CH₃ F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 007 CN F H 3,5-difluorophenyl 025 CN F H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 008 CN F CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 026 CN F CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 009 CN F F 3,5-difluorophenyl 027 CN F F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 010 COCH₃ H H 3,5-difluorophenyl 028 COCH₃ H H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 011 COCH₃ H CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 029 COCH₃ H CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 012 COCH₃ H F 3,5-difluorophenyl 030 COCH₃ H F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 013 COCH₃ CH₃ H 3,5-difluorophenyl 031 COCH₃ CH₃ H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 014 COCH₃ CH₃ CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 032 COCH₃ CH₃ CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 015 COCH₃ CH₃ F 3,5-difluorophenyl 033 COCH₃ CH₃ F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 016 COCH₃ F H 3,5-difluorophenyl 034 COCH₃ F H 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 017 COCH₃ F CH₃ 3,5-difluorophenyl 035 COCH₃ F CH₃ 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl 018 COCH₃ F F 3,5-difluorophenyl 036 COCH₃ F F 2,6-difluoropyridin-4-yl wherein

f) 36 compounds of formula (I.f):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

g) 36 compounds of formula (I.g):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

h) 36 compounds of formula (I.h):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

j) 36 compounds of formula (I.j):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

k) 36 compounds of formula (I.k):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

l) 36 compounds of formula (I.l):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

g) 36 compounds of formula (I.m):

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁵ are as defined in Table 2.

Formulation Examples

Wettable powders a) b) c) active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 25%  50% 75% sodium lignosulfonate 5%  5% — sodium lauryl sulfate 3% —  5% sodium diisobutylnaphthalenesulfonate —  6% 10% phenol polyethylene glycol ether —  2% — (7-8 mol of ethylene oxide) highly dispersed silicic acid 5% 10% 10% Kaolin 62%  27% — The active ingredient is thoroughly mixed with the adjuvants and the mixture is thoroughly ground in a suitable mill, affording wettable powders that can be diluted with water to give suspensions of the desired concentration.

Powders for dry seed treatment a) b) c) active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 25% 50% 75% light mineral oil  5%  5%  5% highly dispersed silicic acid  5%  5% — Kaolin 65% 40% — Talcum — 20% The active ingredient is thoroughly mixed with the adjuvants and the mixture is thoroughly ground in a suitable mill, affording powders that can be used directly for seed treatment.

Emulsifiable concentrate active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 10% octylphenol polyethylene glycol ether  3% (4-5 mol of ethylene oxide) calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate  3% castor oil polyglycol ether (35 mol of ethylene oxide)  4% Cyclohexanone 30% xylene mixture 50% Emulsions of any required dilution, which can be used in plant protection, can be obtained from this concentrate by dilution with water.

Dusts a) b) c) Active ingredient [compound of formula (I)]  5%  6%  4% talcum 95% — — Kaolin — 94% — mineral filler — — 96% Ready-for-use dusts are obtained by mixing the active ingredient with the carrier and grinding the mixture in a suitable mill. Such powders can also be used for dry dressings for seed.

Extruder granules Active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 15% sodium lignosulfonate  2% carboxymethylcellulose  1% Kaolin 82% The active ingredient is mixed and ground with the adjuvants, and the mixture is moistened with water. The mixture is extruded and then dried in a stream of air.

Coated granules Active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 8% polyethylene glycol (mol. wt. 200) 3% Kaolin 89%  The finely ground active ingredient is uniformly applied, in a mixer, to the kaolin moistened with polyethylene glycol. Non-dusty coated granules are obtained in this manner.

Suspension concentrate active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 40% propylene glycol 10% nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether (15 mol of  6% ethylene oxide) Sodium lignosulfonate 10% carboxymethylcellulose  1% silicone oil (in the form of a 75% emulsion in water)  1% Water 32% The finely ground active ingredient is intimately mixed with the adjuvants, giving a suspension concentrate from which suspensions of any desired dilution can be obtained by dilution with water. Using such dilutions, living plants as well as plant propagation material can be treated and protected against infestation by microorganisms, by spraying, pouring or immersion.

Flowable concentrate for seed treatment active ingredient [compound of formula (I)] 40%  propylene glycol 5% copolymer butanol PO/EO 2% tristyrenephenole with 10-20 moles EO 2% 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (in the form of a 20% 0.5%  solution in water) monoazo-pigment calcium salt 5% Silicone oil (in the form of a 75% emulsion in water) 0.2%  Water 45.3%   The finely ground active ingredient is intimately mixed with the adjuvants, giving a suspension concentrate from which suspensions of any desired dilution can be obtained by dilution with water. Using such dilutions, living plants as well as plant propagation material can be treated and protected against infestation by microorganisms, by spraying, pouring or immersion.

Slow Release Capsule Suspension

28 parts of a combination of the compound of formula (I) are mixed with 2 parts of an aromatic solvent and 7 parts of toluene diisocyanate/polymethylene-polyphenylisocyanate-mixture (8:1). This mixture is emulsified in a mixture of 1.2 parts of polyvinyl alcohol, 0.05 parts of a defoamer and 51.6 parts of water until the desired particle size is achieved. To this emulsion a mixture of 2.8 parts 1,6-diaminohexane in 5.3 parts of water is added. The mixture is agitated until the polymerization reaction is completed.

The obtained capsule suspension is stabilized by adding 0.25 parts of a thickener and 3 parts of a dispersing agent. The capsule suspension formulation contains 28% of the active ingredients. The medium capsule diameter is 8-15 microns.

The resulting formulation is applied to seeds as an aqueous suspension in an apparatus suitable for that purpose.

EXAMPLES

The Examples which follow serve to illustrate the invention. The compounds of the invention can be distinguished from known compounds by virtue of greater efficacy at low application rates, which can be verified by the person skilled in the art using the experimental procedures outlined in the Examples, using lower application rates if necessary, for example 50 ppm, 12.5 ppm, 6 ppm, 3 ppm, 1.5 ppm, 0.8 ppm or 0.2 ppm.

Compounds of formula (I) may possess any number of benefits including, inter alia, advantageous levels of biological activity for protecting plants against diseases that are caused by fungi or superior properties for use as agrochemical active ingredients (for example, greater biological activity, an advantageous spectrum of activity, an increased safety profile (including improved crop tolerance), improved physico-chemical properties, or increased biodegradability).

List of Abbreviations

° C.=degrees Celsius, CDCl₃=chloroform-d, d=doublet, DIPEA=N,N-diisopropylethylamine, DMF=dimethylformamide, HAUT=1-[Bis(dimethylamino)methylene]-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridinium 3-oxid hexafluorophosphate, m=multiplet, MHz=mega hertz, PyBOP=benzotriazol-1-yl-oxytripyrrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate, q=quartet, s=singlet, THF=tetrahydrofuran

Example 1: This example illustrates the preparation of 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (Compound P-11)

a) Preparation of N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide

To a solution of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (1.1 equiv.) and 2,2-dimethylcyclobutylamine hydrochloride (1.5 g, 12.2 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) in dichloromethane (110 ml), PyBOP (1.1 equiv.) and DIPEA (3.3 equiv.) were added in sequence. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and then concentrated in vacuo. Direct purification of the crude by chromatography on silica gel (eluent: mixtures cyclohexane/ethyl acetate) afforded the desired N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide in 92% yield (2.55 g, 10.2 mmol). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=1.15 (s, 3H), 1.21 (s, 3H), 1.60-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.93-1.98 (m, 1H), 2.25-2.35 (m, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 4.20-4.30 (q, 1H), 6.87 (d, 1H), 7.97 (d, 1H), 8.10-8.20 (m, 1H), 12.52 (s, 1H).

b) Preparation of 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide

N-chlorosuccinimide (2.0 equiv.) was added portionwise to a stirred solution of N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide (2.55 g, 10.2 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) in DMF (51 ml). The reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature and then poured in sodium thiosulfate solution and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo. The desired 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide (2.07 g, 7.27 mmol, 71% yield) was obtained after purification by chromatography on silica gel (eluent: mixtures cyclohexane/ethyl acetate). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=1.14 (s, 3H), 1.22 (s, 3H), 1.60-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.95-2.05 (m, 1H), 2.25-2.35 (m, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 4.20-4.30 (q, 1H), 6.86 (s, 1H), 7.75-7.85 (m, 1H), 12.60 (s, 1H).

c) Preparation of 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide

6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide (2.0 g, 7.02 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) and pyridine hydrochloride (7 equiv.) were stirred at 150° C. for 10 hours. Then the reaction was cooled to room temperature, and the crude mixture directly purified by chromatography on silica gel (eluent: dichloromethane) to afford the desired 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide in 80% yield (1.52 g, 5.61 mmol). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=1.15 (s, 3H), 1.22 (s, 3H), 1.60-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.95-2.05 (m, 1H), 2.25-2.35 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.30 (q, 1H), 6.98 (s, 1H), 7.70-7.85 (m, 1H), 12.61 (s, 1H).

d) Preparation of 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide

Under an argon atmosphere, cesium carbonate (2.0 equiv.) and dibromomethane (1.2 equiv.) were added in sequence to a solution of 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-pyridine-2-carboxamide (700 mg, 2.59 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) in DMF (10.3 ml). The mixture was stirred at 110° C. for 1 h and then cooled to room temperature, quenched with water and the water phase was extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by chromatography on silica gel (eluent: mixtures cyclohexane/ethyl acetate) to afford the desired 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide in 78% yield (572 mg, 2.02 mmol). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=1.11 (s, 3H), 1.22 (s, 3H), 1.60-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.90-1.97 (m, 1H), 2.25-2.35 (m, 1H), 4.25-4.30 (q, 1H), 6.25 (s, 2H), 6.89 (s, 1H), 7.61 (m, 1H).

e) Preparation of 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (Compound P-11)

Under an argon atmosphere, BrettPhos-G3-palladacycle ([(2-Di-cyclohexylphosphino-3,6-dimethoxy-2′,4′,6′-triisopropyl-1,1′-biphenyl)-2-(2′-amino-1,1′-biphenyl)]palladium(II) methanesulfonate methanesulfonate, 0.1 equiv.) and potassium tert-butoxide (2.5 equiv.) were added to a degassed, stirred mixture of 6-chloro-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (100 mg, 0.354 mmol, 1 equiv.) and 3,5-difluoro aniline (1.1 equiv.) in THE (1.5 ml). The reaction was heated to 80° C. and stirred for 1 hour, then the mixture was cooled to room temperature. The volatiles were removed using a rotatory evaporator and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed twice with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent: mixtures cyclohexane ethyl acetate) afforded the desired methyl 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)-N-(2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxamide (76 mg, 57% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=1.13 (s, 3H), 1.21 (s, 3H), 1.60-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.80-1.95 (m, 1H), 2.25-2.35 (m, 1H), 4.40-4.45 (q, 1H), 6.17 (s, 2H), 6.40-6.55 (m, 3H), 6.90-7.05 (m, 2H), 7.60-7.65 (m, 1H).

Throughout this description, temperatures are given in degrees Celsius (° C.) and “m.p.” means melting point. LC/MS means Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and the description of the apparatus and the method is: (Method A: ACQUITY UPLC from Waters, Waters UPLC HSS T3, 1.8 m particle size, 30×2.1 mm column, 0.85 mL/min., 60° C., H₂O/MeOH 95:5+0.05% HCOOH (90%)/CH₃CN+0.05% HCOOH (10%)-1.2 min.-CH₃CN+0.05% HCOOH (100%)-0.30 min., ACQUITY SQD Mass Spectrometer from Waters, ionization method: electrospray (ESI), Polarity: positive ions, Capillary (kV) 3.00, Cone (V) 30.00, Extractor (V) 2.00, Source Temperature (° C.) 150, Desolvation Temperature (° C.) 350, Cone Gas Flow (L/Hr) 0, Desolvation Gas Flow (L/Hr) 650). Method B: ACQUITY UPLC from Waters, Waters UPLC HSS T3, 1.8 m particle size, 30×2.1 mm column, 0.85 mL/min., 60° C., H₂O/MeOH 95:5+0.05% HCOOH (90%)/CH₃CN+0.05% HCOOH (10%)-2.7 min.-CH₃CN+0.05% HCOOH (100%)-0.30 min., ACQUITY SQD Mass Spectrometer from Waters, ionization method: electrospray (ESI), Polarity: positive ions, Capillary (kV) 3.00, Cone (V) 30.00, Extractor (V) 2.00, Source Temperature (° C.) 150, Desolvation Temperature (° C.) 350, Cone Gas Flow (L/Hr) 0, Desolvation Gas Flow (L/Hr) 650). Method C: ACQUITY Mass Spectrometer from Waters Corporations (SQD or SQDII Single quadrupole mass spectrometer) equipped with an electrospray source (Polarity: positive or negative ions, Capillary: 3.0 kV, Cone: 30V, Extractor: 3.00 V, Source Temperature: 150° C., Desolvation Temperature: 400° C., Cone Gas Flow: 60 L/hr, Desolvation Gas Flow: 700 L/hr, Mass range: 140 to 800 Da) and an ACQUITY UPLC from Waters Corporations with solvent degasser, binary pump, heated column compartment and diode-array detector. Column: Waters UPLC HSS T3, 1.8 μm, 30×2.1 mm, Temp: 60° C., DAD Wavelength range (nm): 210 to 400, Solvent Gradient: A=Water/Methanol 9:1+0.1% formic acid, B=Acetonitrile+0.1% formic acid, gradient: 0-100% B in 2.5 min; Flow (ml/min) 0.75).

TABLE 3 Melting point and LC/MS data (R_(t) = Retention time) for selected compounds of Table 1 and Table 2. Compound Mp No. Name Structure (° C.) LC/MS P-1  6-anilino-N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)-2- methyl- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

171-176 R_(t) = 1.09 min (A); MS: m/z = 342 (M + H) P-2  N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)-6-(3- fluoroanilino)-2- methyl- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

62-74 R_(t) = 1.11 min (A); MS: m/z = 360 (M + H) P-3  6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)-2- methyl- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

192-198 R_(t) = 1.15 min (A); MS: m/z = 378 (M + H) P-4  6-[(2,6-difluoro-4- pyridyl)amino]-N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)-2- methyl- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.05 min (A); MS: m/z = 379 (M + H) P-5  6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.10 min (A); MS: m/z = 364 (M + H) P-6  6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(2,2- dimethylcyclobutyl)- 2,2-difluoro- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

176-179 R_(t) = 1.24 min (A); MS: m/z = 412 (M + H) P-7  6-(N-cyano-3,5- difluoro-anilino)-N- (2,2- dimethylcyclobutyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

240-250 R_(t) = 1.11 min (A); MS: m/z = 401 (M + H) P-8  N-(2,2- dimethylcyclobutyl)-6- (3-fluoroanilino)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

162-167 R_(t) = 1.10 min (A); MS: m/z = 358 (M + H) P-9  6-anilino-N-(2,2- dimethylcyclobutyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

145-150 R_(t) = 1.08 min (A); MS: m/z = 340 (M + H) P-10 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4- pyridyl)amino]-N-(2,2- dimethylcyclobutyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

230-238 R_(t) = 1.09 min (A); MS: m/z = 377 (M + H) P-11 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(2,2- dimethylcyclobutyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

185-189 R_(t) = 1.04 min (A); MS: m/z = 376 (M + H) P-12 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4- pyridyl)amino]-N- isopentyl- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

202-205 R_(t) = 1.02 min (A); MS: m/z = 365 (M + H) P-13 6-[(2,6-difluoro-4- pyridyl)amino]-N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

230-233 R_(t) = 1.01 min (A); MS: m/z = 365 (M + H) P-14 N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)-6-[(5- fluoro-3- pyridyl)amino]- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

202-205 R_(t) = 0.93 min (A); MS: m/z = 347 (M + H) P-15 N-(2,2- dimethylpropyl)-6-(3- fluoroanilino)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.08 min (A); MS: m/z = 346 (M + H) P-16 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-[1-(1,1-dioxothian- 4-yl)-1-methyl-ethyl]- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.40 min (C); MS: m/z = 468 (M + H) P-17 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(1,1,3,3- [tetramethylbutyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.99 min (C); MS: m/z = 406 (M + H) P-18 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(1,1- dimethylpropyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.76 min (C); MS: m/z = 364 (M + H) P-19 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(3-methylthietan-3- yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.64 min (C); MS: m/z = 380 (M + H) P-20 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(1-methyl-1-phenyl- ethyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.81 min (C); MS: m/z = 412 (M + H) P-21 N-tert-butyl-6-(3,5- difluoroanilino)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.67 min (C); MS: m/z = 350 (M + H) P-22 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(1- methylcyclobutyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.69 min (C); MS: m/z = 361 (M + H) P-23 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(3- methyltetrahydrofuran- 3-yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.41 min (C); MS: m/z = 378 (M + H) P-24 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(3-methyloxetan-3- yl)-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.30 min (C); MS: m/z = 364 (M + H) P-25 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(1- methylcyclopentyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.79 min (C); MS: m/z = 390 (M + H) P-26 6-(3,5-difluoroanilino)- N-(1- methylcyclohexyl)- [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- c]pyridine-4- carboxamide

R_(t) = 1.87 min (C); MS: m/z = 390 (M + H)

Biological Examples Example B1. Alternaria solani/Tomato/Leaf Disc (Early Blight)

Tomato leaf disks cv. Baby are placed on agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf disks are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 2 days after application. The inoculated leaf disks are incubated at 23° C./21° C. (day/night) and 80% rh under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears on untreated check disk leaf disks (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Alternaria solani at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-8, P-9, P-118, P-19, P-21, P-22, P-23, P-24, and P-25.

Example B2. Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea)/Liquid Culture (Gray Mould)

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage are directly mixed into nutrient broth (Vogels broth). After placing a (DMSO) solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format), the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores is added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth is determined photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Botryotinia fuckeliana at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-22.

Example B3. Glomerella Lagenarium (Colletotrichum lagenarium)/Liquid Culture (Anthracnose)

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage are directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a (DMSO) solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format), the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores is added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth is measured photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Glomerella lagenarium at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-1, P-2, P-3, P-5, P-6, P-7, P-8, P-9, P-10, P-11, P-14, P-15, P-18, P-19, P-20, P-21, P-22, P-23, P-24, P-25, and P-26.

Example B4. Blumeria Graminis f. Sp. Tritici (Erysiphe graminis f. Sp. Tritici)/Wheat/Leaf Disc Preventative (Powdery Mildew on Wheat)

Wheat leaf segments cv. Kanzler are placed on agar in a multiwell plate (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf disks are inoculated by shaking powdery mildew infected plants above the test plates 1 day after application. The inoculated leaf disks are incubated at 20° C. and 60% rh under a light regime of 24 h darkness followed by 12 h light/12 h darkness in a climate chamber and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears on untreated check leaf segments (6-8 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-9, P-11, P-14, P-18, and P-22.

Example B5. Phaeosphaeria nodorum (Septoria nodorum)/Wheat/Leaf Disc Preventative (Glume Blotch)

Wheat leaf segments cv. Kanzler are placed on agar in a multiwell plate (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf disks are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 2 days after application. The inoculated test leaf disks are incubated at 20° C. and 75% rh under a light regime of 12 h light/12 h darkness in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf disks (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Phaeosphaeria nodorum at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-5, P-11, P-15, P-18, P-22, and P-25.

Example B6. Monographella nivalis (Microdochium nivale)/Liquid Culture (Foot Rot Cereals)

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage are directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a (DMSO) solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format), the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores is added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth is determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Monographella nivalis at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-5, P-6, P-7, P-8, P-9, P-10, P-11, P-12, P-14, P-15, P-17, P-18, P-19, P-20, P-21, P-22, P-23, P-24, P-25, and P-26.

Example B7. Mycosphaerella arachidis (Cercospora arachidicola)/Liquid Culture (Early Leaf Spot)

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage are directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a (DMSO) solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format), the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores is added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth is determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Mycosphaerella arachidis at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-8, P-9, P-11, P-15, P-18, P-19, P-21, P-22, and P-25.

Example B8. Puccinia recondita f. Sp. Tritici/Wheat/Leaf Disc Preventative (Brown Rust)

Wheat leaf segments cv. Kanzler are placed on agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf disks are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 1 day after application. The inoculated leaf segments are incubated at 19° C. and 75% rh under a light regime of 12 h light/12 h darkness in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf segments (7-9 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-8, P-11, P-12, P-18, P-21, P-22, P-25, and P-26.

Example B9. Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia oryzae)/rice/leaf disc preventative (Rice Blast)

Rice leaf segments cv. Ballila are placed on agar in a multiwell plate (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf segments are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 2 days after application. The inoculated leaf segments are incubated at 22° C. and 80% rh under a light regime of 24 h darkness followed by 12 h light/12 h darkness in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf segments (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Magnaporthe grisea at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-5, P-14, P-15, P-17, P-18, P-19, P-21, P-22, P-24, P-25, and P-26.

Example B10. Pyrenophora Teres/Barley/Leaf Disc Preventative (Net Blotch)

Barley leaf segments cv. Hasso are placed on agar in a multiwell plate (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf segments are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 2 days after application. The inoculated leaf segments are incubated at 20° C. and 65% rh under a light regime of 12 h light/12 h darkness in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf segments (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Pyrenophora teres at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-5, P-8, P-9, P-15, P-18, P-19, P-21, P-22, P-23, P-25, and P-26.

Example B11. Mycosphaerella graminicola (Septoria tritici)/Liquid Culture (Septoria Blotch)

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage are directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a (DMSO) solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format), the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores is added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth is determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Mycosphaerella graminicola at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which showed extensive disease development: P-2, P-5, P-7, P-8, P-9, P-10, P-11, P-12, P-13, P-14, P-15, P-17, P-18, P-19, P-20, P-21, P-22, P-23, P-24, P-25, and P-26. 

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, formyl, C₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆haloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₆alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₃alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkoxyoxalyl, C₁-C₆alkoxycarbonylC₁-C₄alkylC₁-C₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₆alkylsulfanylcarbonyl, or phenylcarbonyl; R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, halogen, or C₁-C₆alkoxyC₁-C₂alkyl; R⁴ is C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups represented by R⁶, phenyl, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or groups individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁷, or a 5- to 10-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi- or carbotri-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally bonded to the rest of the molecule through a C₁-C₂alkylene linker; R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁶; R⁶ is halogen, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, or C₁-C₄haloalkyl; R⁷ is halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄haloalkyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, or C₁-C₄haloalkoxy; or a salt or an N-oxide thereof.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R¹ is hydrogen, cyano, or C₁-C₃alkylcarbonyl.
 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R¹ is hydrogen, cyano or acetyl.
 4. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₃alkyl, or halogen.
 5. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or fluoro.
 6. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁴ is R⁴ is C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆haloalkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, C₃-C₄cycloalkylC₁-C₂alkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 5- or 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1 or 2 heteroatoms or groups individually selected from oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, or a 6- to 9-membered non-aromatic spirocyclic carbobi-cyclyl ring system optionally comprising 1, or 2 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
 7. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁴ is C₃-C₈alkyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 groups represented by R⁶, phenylC₁-C₃alkyl, heterocyclylC₁-C₃alkyl, wherein the heterocyclyl is a 4- to 6-membered non-aromatic monocyclic ring comprising a single heteroatom or group individually selected from oxygen, sulfur, and S(O)₂, wherein the heterocyclyl groups are optionally substituted with a single group represented by R⁶, or phenylC₁-C₃alkyl⁶.
 8. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁵ is phenyl or heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic monocyclic ring comprising 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen and sulfur, and wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷.
 9. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁵ is phenyl or pyridyl, wherein each phenyl or pyridyl moiety is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from R⁷.
 10. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁶ is methyl.
 11. The compound according tom claim 1, wherein R⁷ is chloro, fluoro, methyl, or methoxy.
 12. An agrochemical composition comprising a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) according tom claim
 1. 13. The composition according to claim 12, further comprising at least one additional active ingredient and/or an agrochemically-acceptable diluent or carrier.
 14. A method of controlling or preventing infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, wherein a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof.
 15. Use of a compound of formula (I) according to claim 1 as a fungicide.
 16. The compound according to claim 2, wherein R¹ is hydrogen, cyano or acetyl.
 17. A method of controlling or preventing infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, wherein a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) according to a composition according to claim 12, is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof. 